The Federal Trade Commission has ordered cash advance app Cleo AI to distribute more than $15.8 million to over 2.1 million customers following allegations of deceptive marketing practices.
The FTC's Allegations
In March 2025, the FTC filed a complaint against Cleo AI claiming the app advertised access to "hundreds of dollars" in advances, but most users received significantly less. The agency also alleged that customers were charged extra fees for same-day or instant advances that frequently did not arrive until the next day.
Regulators further stated that Cleo AI made it difficult for users to cancel subscriptions, with some customers told they could not cancel until they repaid outstanding advances.
Settlement and Refund Details
Cleo AI agreed to pay $17 million to settle the case. The company denied wrongdoing.
The FTC plans to send 2,124,796 PayPal payments beginning October 27. Eligible customers will receive an email notice from the FTC at an official address by October 26.
Recipients must accept their PayPal payment within 30 days. The FTC has not announced individual payment amounts.
How to Claim Your Refund
People with questions can contact the refund administrator, Rust Consulting, at 1-877-788-4958. The FTC reminds consumers that it never asks people to pay money or provide account information to receive refunds.
