Consumer Alert: Scammers Claiming to Express Advance America Target Maine People

SPARTANBURG, S.C., Nov. 13, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ — Advance America, a provider that is national of loans and other monetary services, has become alert to a brand new revolution of scams focusing on customers in Maine. These scam performers, posing as Advance America representatives to gather cash from naive customers, have been in no real means connected to the business. Because of state laws, Advance America will not presently offer payday advances to Maine residents.

In the last couple weeks, in specific, scammers have contacted Maine residents claiming them to shop for a prepaid debit card or cable money as a “processing cost” or “good faith deposit. They have been pre-approved for the loan, then asking” In other instances, scammers look for to gather on “unpaid” pay day loan debt, usually threatening arrest or appropriate action or demanding individual economic information on the phone. Scammers went so far as sending residents loan that is fraudulent making use of the Advance America logo design.

“Scammers frequently utilize the standing of the best, respected company to con victims from their cash, ” stated Patrick O’Shaughnessy, president and CEO of Advance America. “Legitimate payday loan providers such as for instance Advance America are very controlled at both their state and federal degree and won’t ever make use of the form of fraudulent and unlawful techniques utilized by scam music artists. “

Advance America urges customers to spot the caution signs and symptoms of economic fraud and follow these strategies for avoiding loan that is payday commercial collection agency frauds. If people suspect being scammed, they need to report it straight away to law that is local and also to the lending company that the scammer claims to express. If you’ve been contacted by some body claiming to express Advance America, please call 888-310-4238.

Discover signs and symptoms of a scam

Federal legislation strictly regulates exactly how bill that is real and loan agents can perform company. The Fair that is federal Debt techniques Act (FDCPA) particularly forbids loan companies from being abusive, unjust or misleading in attempting to gather a financial obligation. What the law states especially states debt collectors cannot threaten customers with arrest or prison time if they do not spend their bill. If someone claims you are going to face unlawful prosecution them money, it’s almost certainly a scam unless you immediately wire.

Scammers could also claim you to shop for a prepaid debit card or cable cash as a “processing cost” or “good faith deposit. Which you have already been pre-approved for a loan, after which need” Others may actually be identification thieves off to get the individual or monetary information.

How to prevent Scams:

As well as focusing on how loan providers and bill collectors can run, customers should take steps to also protect by themselves, including:

Never ever provide information that is personal as the Social Security number or banking account information online or higher the device without confirming that you will be working together with a genuine loan provider or bill collector. To validate, call the establishment right back using an understood number, for instance the quantity noted on your declaration or regarding the back of the credit/debit card.
Be dubious of any e-mail with urgent needs for individual information that is financial. If a message demands instant action or makes upsetting or exciting false statements, it is most likely a fraud.
Verify business licenses whenever trying to get that loan on the web. Genuine loan providers will show state licenses to their sites to confirm they are full-service, certified lenders complying with state and federal rules.
Never ever wire cash or provide debit that is prepaid information to a lender claiming you’ve been pre-approved for a financial loan and must make a preliminary re payment being a “show of good faith. ” Genuine loan providers don’t offer approvals ahead of application nor need faith that is good.
Keep anti-virus, online payday ID anti-malware, and spam e-mail protection pc computer software as much as date on all of your computing products.
Maintain an archive of all of the outstanding financial obligation, and consist of loan provider email address.
Frequently look at your bank, credit and debit card statements to make certain there are not any transactions that are unauthorized. Likewise, look at your credit history (using Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) every four months for a rotating foundation; credit file in many cases are among the first places where indications of identification theft or fraudulence will show up.
If some one draws near you claiming you borrowed from them a financial obligation, need they offer written proof your debt once the legislation calls for – particularly if it’s for a charge a fee do not recognize.