Loan Scams: Watch Out!

To whom it may concern,

Please, I’m asking you all to share this post.
I need to put out a serious warning about an advertisement I recently came across: it is a complete and utter scam. These people are essentially walking up to you, taking your cash and your sensitive identity documents, and then vanishing. Even when you have a signed contract in hand, they have no intention of actually disbursing the funds they promised. I’ve already filed a formal report with the local police department regarding this matter, but even as I write this, the individual behind this scheme is still active online, actively soliciting emails and pushing these predatory loans. Please, stay far away from this person—they are looking to exploit you.

URGENT NOTICE: Are you facing an unexpected financial crunch? Whether you’re working with a limited monthly income, living on a fixed social security check, currently out on maternity leave, or even dealing with the stress of a legal garnishment—we are here to help. We offer flexible loan options tailored to meet your immediate needs. $16667We are currently offering flexible financing options with repayment terms extending up to three years. For all inquiries or specific requests, please reach out to us directly via email at: I am looking to discuss loan options and general inquiries regarding credit. Please reach out to me at pozajmnice.zg@gmail.com.It’s all being handled over on Craigslist.

There has already been plenty of discussion on this board regarding these types of loan offers and credit schemes. We have issued countless warnings that any request for upfront fees is a guaranteed scam, yet people simply refuse to listen. Every single time, someone new falls for the exact same trap.

Hey,

I guess I fell for it too. 😢 When you're desperate for cash, you don't exactly think things through very clearly...
What should my next move be? I actually signed a contract with them, so I suppose I might need to file a report with the police. What exactly did they tell you?

You could file a report with the police, but the real issue is whether they can actually pin down this guy's identity. Even if they do, if the damages fall under $667, the law basically forces you toward a civil suit instead of criminal charges. But then we hit the wall: how do you even initiate a lawsuit when you don't have a name to put on the paperwork?

Rebecca Green7 said:You could file a report with the police, but the real issue is whether they can actually pin down this guy's identity. Even if they do, if the damages fall under $667, the law basically forces you toward a civil suit instead of criminal charges. But then we hit the wall: how do you even initiate a lawsuit when you don't have a name to put on the paperwork?

I mean, obviously, but I guess we just have to learn from our mistakes, right? 😠
It seems like there are more and more people pulling these stunts lately, leaving us poor, unsuspecting victims in their wake.
I just wish people would be a bit more cautious so they don't end up falling for it like some sort of 😢
total amateur.

I know how it goes. We’re all dealing with our own struggles, and certain people see that as an opportunity to exploit a bad situation. But make no mistake: never, ever hand over cash upfront. It’s never a clean deal.

So, how did you guys actually move the cash? Like, was it just a hand-to-hand thing, a direct bank transfer, or maybe through western union?

Rebecca Harris9 said:I mean, obviously, but I guess we just have to learn from our mistakes, right? 😠
It seems like there are more and more people pulling these stunts lately, leaving us poor, unsuspecting victims in their wake.
I just wish people would be a bit more cautious so they don't end up falling for it like some sort of 😢
total amateur.

There isn't much else to do, I guess, since I already fell for it too. I'm just worried my bank account won't be okay.

On what authority are they settling this account? Did you actually receive any funds, or sign off on some promissory note or legal document?

The money hasn't hit my account yet, and I haven't signed any formal promissory note—it was just some agreement sent over email. I'm honestly a little worried about potential garnishments down the road, since I've heard stories about people having their accounts frozen by the IRS or collection agencies without much documentation. It was all over the news and TV. What should I do? I sent an email to them, but I guess nobody has replied yet.

I don't think there is any actual fear of a foreclosure here.

Joshua Wilson21 said:There isn't much else to do, I guess, since I already fell for it too. I'm just worried my bank account won't be okay.

They can't exactly seize anything if the money never even hit your account in the first place. You could always just head down to Chase or Bank of America and ask for a statement proving those funds were never deposited.
As for me, I suppose I'll just pray to God that I don't end up needing that money for my prescriptions.

Don't stress too much; if things go sideways, we can just band together, file a report with the local police, and leak the whole thing to the press—it shouldn't be that difficult. We already have the identity of the person who scammed us.

I called the person whose account received the funds after confirming it wasn't the actual lender's account. When I got them on the phone, they claimed their account was frozen and they couldn't return the money because that individual was causing issues for them. I guess my main question is just how he could have obtained their routing and account numbers? It feels like maybe they're a pretty organized group when it comes to these scams.

Joshua Wilson21 said:I called the person whose account received the funds after confirming it wasn't the actual lender's account. When I got them on the phone, they claimed their account was frozen and they couldn't return the money because that individual was causing issues for them. I guess my main question is just how he could have obtained their routing and account numbers? It feels like maybe they're a pretty organized group when it comes to these scams.

They are obviously connected. You can't seriously believe money just lands in some random stranger's account with zero ties to the situation. If you have a name, report it immediately. Don't let them walk away.

Ultra-fast cash advances available even for those with frozen accounts, ranging from $1,000 up to $1000, with absolutely zero upfront fees and processing completed within 30 minutes. CALL NOW—we operate through the weekend too. FAST, SECURE, AND DISCREET payouts. Washington, D.C.

Has anyone actually reached out regarding this ad? There seem to be quite a few of them popping up on The New York Times lately.

Rebecca Harris9 said:Ultra-fast cash advances available even for those with frozen accounts, ranging from $1,000 up to $1000, with absolutely zero upfront fees and processing completed within 30 minutes. CALL NOW—we operate through the weekend too. FAST, SECURE, AND DISCREET payouts. Washington, D.C.

Has anyone actually reached out regarding this ad? There seem to be quite a few of them popping up on The New York Times lately.

It is a scheme involving the mobile carriers. You go to Verizon, AT&T, or T-Mobile with the people offering this on the classifieds, pick out a device, and sign a service contract. You hand them your phone, and they give you the cash. Then you just pay the carriers via your monthly bill.

Do yourself a favor and actually read the linked article before you go diving headfirst into something like this.

The claim here is that the SIM card stays with the customer specifically so they don't get stuck with the bill. I am not sure if that is an actual fact or just some corporate nonsense. Regardless, one ought to proceed with caution.

Don't be so naive, people.
Loans from The New York Times? Give me a break. Joe Biden!
🤦
I mean, sure, go ahead and try it, but you’ll be right back on this subforum in a few months—maybe five if you're lucky—ready to dump your whole sob story on us.
Do yourselves a favor and dig through the threads about debt collection on here from the last year or two. It’ll clear things up pretty quickly.

Thanks for the heads-up 🙂 I certainly won't be giving them a call, let alone signing any kind of contract with them.
I suppose I was just curious about how that whole process actually works...