Customer 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 as well as other monetary services, has become alert to a brand new wave of scams focusing on customers in Maine. These scam designers, posing as Advance America representatives to gather cash from naive customers, have been in no real means associated with the business. As a result of state regulations, Advance America doesn’t presently provide payday advances to Maine residents.

In the last couple weeks, in specific, scammers have actually contacted Maine residents claiming they have been pre-approved for a financial loan, after which asking them to acquire a prepaid debit card or cable cash as a «processing cost» or «good faith deposit. » In other instances, scammers look for to gather on «unpaid» cash advance financial obligation, often threatening arrest or appropriate action or demanding individual monetary information over the telephone. Scammers went so far as sending residents fraudulent loan papers with the Advance America logo design.

«Scammers frequently make use of the trustworthiness 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 highly managed at both hawaii and federal degree and will not make use of the sorts of fraudulent and unlawful strategies utilized by scam designers. «

Advance America urges customers to determine the caution signs and symptoms of economic fraud and follow these methods for avoiding pay day loan and commercial collection agency frauds. If people suspect being scammed, they should report it instantly to regional police force and also to the lending company that the scammer claims to express. If you have been contacted by some body claiming to express Advance America, please phone 888-310-4238.

Discover signs and symptoms of a scam

Federal legislation strictly regulates exactly exactly just how genuine bill enthusiasts and loan agents can perform company. The federal Fair Debt Collection methods Act (FDCPA) particularly forbids loan companies from being abusive, unfair or misleading in attempting to collect a financial obligation. What the law states particularly claims debt collectors cannot threaten customers with arrest or prison time when they do not spend their bill. If somebody claims you may face unlawful prosecution them money, it’s almost certainly a scam unless you immediately wire.

Scammers could also claim you to buy a prepaid debit card or cable cash as a «processing cost» or «good faith deposit. Which you were pre-approved for a financial loan, after which need» Others may actually be identification thieves off to get the personal or information that is financial.

How to prevent Scams:

As well as focusing on how loan providers and bill enthusiasts can run, customers should additionally make a plan to protect by themselves, including:

• Never ever provide information that is personal such as the Social Security number or bank-account information online or higher the device without confirming you are working together with the best loan provider or bill collector. To confirm, phone the establishment straight right back using an understood number, including the quantity noted on your declaration or in the straight straight 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 action that is immediate makes upsetting or exciting false statements, it really is most most most likely a scam.
• Verify business licenses whenever trying to get that loan on the web. Genuine lenders will show state licenses to their internet sites to confirm that they’re full-service, certified lenders complying with state and laws that are federal.
• Never ever wire cash or offer debit that is prepaid information up to a loan provider claiming you’ve been pre-approved for a financial loan and must make a short re re payment as being a «show of great faith. » Genuine loan providers usually do not offer approvals ahead of application plus don’t need faith that payday loans NH is good.
• Keep anti-virus, anti-malware, and spam e-mail security pc software as much as date on your entire computing products.
• Preserve accurate documentation of all of the debt that is outstanding and consist of lender email address.
• Frequently check always your bank, credit and debit card statements to make certain there aren’t any transactions that are unauthorized. Likewise, look at your credit file (using Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) every four months on a rotating foundation; credit history tend to be among the first places where indications of identification theft or fraudulence can look.
• If somebody approaches you claiming you borrowed from them a financial obligation, need they supply written evidence of your debt given that statutory legislation calls for — particularly when it is for a charge a fee do not recognize.