Debt Consolidation and Loan Scams
Have you received an email or postal letter offering you a great "consolidation loan" or credit card rate? It may be a scam.
Typically, the websites and offers look real, except they will almost immediately ask you to supply personal financial information , social security number, name, address, phone numbers, etc.
The Truth About Advance-Fee Loan Scams
Advance-fee loan sharks are preying on unwary consumers, taking their money for
the promise of a loan or credit, and leaving them in hot water. The scam artists
often impersonate legitimate lenders to entice consumers into falling for their
bogus offer.
According to law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and Canada, ads and promotions
for advance-fee loans suggest or even "guarantee" that there's a high
likelihood that a loan will be approved, regardless of the applicant's credit
history. But to take advantage of the offer, the consumer has to pay a fee. The
catch? The scam artist takes off with your fee, and the loan never materializes.
Many advance-fee loans are promoted in the classified sections of daily and
weekly newspapers and magazines. Often, the ads feature toll-free 800, 866, or
877 numbers, or area codes from Canada, such as 416, 647, 905, or 705. The loans
also are promoted through direct mail, radio, and cable TV spots. The fact that
an ad is in a legitimate media outlet like the local newspaper or radio
station doesn't guarantee that the company placing it is trustworthy.
Legitimate offers of credit do not require an up-front payment. Although
legitimate lenders may charge application, appraisal, or credit report fees, the
fees generally are taken from the amount borrowed. And the fees usually are paid
to the lender or broker after the loan is approved. Legitimate lenders may
guarantee firm offers of credit to "credit-worthy" consumers, but first, they
evaluate the consumer's creditworthiness and confirm the information in the
application. Canadian law enforcers caution that it is highly unlikely that
legitimate Canadian lenders would take a risk on U.S. citizens whose credit
problems preclude them from getting a loan in the U.S.
Often, advance-fee loan sharks claim that their fees will go to a third party
for credit insurance or a related service. Sometimes, they even fax materials
using stolen or forged logos and letterheads from legitimate companies. The
materials are fakes, according to enforcement officials, and the contracts the
scam artists ask consumers to sign are worthless. Adding insult to injury, some
scammers have used the information they collect from consumers to commit
identity theft.
Often, advance-fee loan scammers direct applicants to send the fees via Western
Union money transfers payable to an individual, rather than a business. They ask
applicants to use a "password code" with their Western Union payment, which
allows the scammers to hide their identity.
U.S. and Canadian law enforcers say consumers can avoid being taken by
advance-fee loan sharks. Here's how:
* Don't pay for the promise of a loan. It's illegal for companies doing business
by phone in the U.S. to promise you a loan and ask you to pay for it before they
deliver. Requiring advance fees for loans also is illegal in Canada.
* Ignore any ad or hang up on any caller that guarantees a loan in exchange
for a fee in advance.
* Remember that legitimate lenders never guarantee or say that you will receive
a loan before you apply, or before they have checked out your credit status or
contacted your references, especially if you have bad credit or no credit
record.
* Don't give your credit card, bank account, or Social Security number on the
telephone, by fax, or via the Internet unless you are familiar with the company
and know why the information is necessary.
* Don't make a payment to an individual for a loan; no legitimate lending
organization would make such a request.
* Don't wire money or send money orders for a loan through Western Union or
similar companies. You have little recourse if there's a problem with a wire
transaction. Legitimate lenders don't pressure you to wire funds.
* If you are not absolutely sure who you are dealing with, get the company's
number in the phone book or from directory assistance, and call it to make sure
you're dealing with the company you think you are. Some scam artists have
pretended to be the Better Business Bureau or another legitimate organization.
* Check out questionable ads by calling Project Phonebusters in Canada toll-free
at 1-888-495-8501. If you live in the U.S. and think you've been a victim of an
advance-fee loan scam, report it to the FTC online at www.ftc.gov or by phone,
toll-free, at 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357).
Finding Low-Cost Help for Credit Problems
It's a good idea to try to solve your debt problems with your creditors as soon
as you realize you won't be able to make your payments. If you can't resolve
your credit problems yourself or need additional help, you may want to contact a
credit counseling service. There are nonprofit organizations in every state that
counsel and educate individuals and families on debt problems, budgeting and
using credit wisely. There is little or no cost for these services.
Universities, military bases, credit unions, and housing authorities also may
offer low- or no-cost credit counseling programs. Check the white pages of your
telephone directory for a service near you.
The Toronto Strategic Partnership is a group of law enforcement agencies in the
U.S. and Canada that works together to prosecute cross border fraud. Formal
members include the Toronto Police Service, the Competition Bureau Canada, the
Ontario Ministry of Consumer and Business Services, the Ontario Provincial
Police, the U.S. Federal Trade Commission and the U.S. Postal Inspection
Service. Other partners include the Ohio Attorney General's Office, the Royal
Canadian Mounted Police, and the Police Services of York, Durham and Peel in
Ontario.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair
business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help
consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free
information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free,
1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet,
telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer
Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal
law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
I was approved for a loan through a company called "Nationex Financial" they have a website www.nationexfinancial.com. When I was approved for $8000 to consolidate credit card debt I was asked to make a down payment of 18%. I did as they asked and sent the money by Western Union to them in Canada. I was told my funds would be deposited into my account my noon the following day. I never received the money. Finally after calling them for 3 days I get a hold of the representative, there is no answer when you choose the customer service option and my "banking rep" never would answer or return my calls. Anyway, after getting a hold of her she says they need another $800 sent in order to provide life insurance so they can complete the loan. I advised I have insurance & am not sending them any more money. She then says I will be sent a refund check in 14-30 days. When I ask for some kind of confirmation to be emailed to me that I will receive my money back she says she will have her manager send one to me. I start to say that this whole thing is suspicious and she puts me on hold and sends me to her voicemail. So I call back and she answers again. I tell her I want her managers name and she transfers me to her voicemail again. I have a contract that was emailed to me that I signed and faxed back (I included it by email), it has a Michigan address on it, along with my receipt from Western Union. Please help me. This was all the money I had to my name.
More Resources
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit www.ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters Internet, telemarketing, identity theft, and other fraud-related complaints into Consumer Sentinel, a secure, online database available to hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.
If you believe you may have fallen victim to an internet scam and wish to report it, please file a complaint with the U.S. government Internet Fraud Complaints Center
And please let us know about any suspicious calls or emails you receive. We look for patterns so that we can alert the authorities and victims to new scams, before it is too late!
For a comprehensive list of national and international agencies to report scams, see this page.