June 07 2007
**If someone claiming to be our company asks for advance loan fees, these are scam artists trying to use our reputable name to steal your hard earned money. Do not become a victim, never send money to anyone in advance of a loan.
On June 7, 2007, our company notified the FBI that we had become aware of an advance loan fee scam across the country using our trademarked and registered domain name (Creditloan.com and Logo) that was providing a toll-free number (1-888-690-9887) for consumers to call, and subsequent fraud to be perpetuated.
Consumers calling their toll-free number, are asked for personally identifiable information such as driver's license numbers, and social security numbers. When the telephone numbers are called, the phone is answered either live or by voicemail saying that the caller has reached "Creditloan.com, where our business is your pleasure". Fees are requested up front, with the promise of the approved credit or loan approval, with instructions to send the money using payment vehicles such as Western Union.
The fraudulent "Creditloan.com, where our business is your pleasure" toll-free number (1-888-690-9887) IS NOT associated with the authenticated website (www.creditloan.com) in Tampa, Florida.
Our company DOES NOT ENDORSE or PARTICPATE in these malicious activities, and should not be confused with the fraudulent ring that is requesting payment in advance. We are currently working closely with the FBI and law enforcement agencies throughout the country to bring this fraudulent ring to justice.
Historically, Creditloan.com has always established itself as an entity that focuses on operating with the highest integrity. As such, the Website has secured a number of other important certifications. For example, it also was awarded the TRUSTe seal, which shows its compliance with best practices and rigorous online privacy standards. The seal is awarded by TRUSTe(r), an independent organization that monitors Website privacy and email policies.
In addition, Creditloan.com has been issued a VeriSign SSL certificate, attesting to its use of the highest level of encryption and security online. The site also has the stamp of approval of the Internet Content Rating Association (ICRA), which is an international content labeling system that strives to provide consumers with a safer online environment.
Creditloan.com is a leading source of information, insight and advice for consumers seeking assistance with obtaining financial and credit services. Established in 1998, the site offers more than 2,000 articles in a wide range of financial topics. It also offers valuable one-stop access to loan applications, reputable service providers and various tools to help consumers meet their credit and personal finance needs.
Important Information To Know
Exercise caution any time funds are requested to be sent in advance to claim a prize, inheritance, loan, or unusually high investment return. Creditloan.com is NOT a direct lender. We are an informational website that provides secure links to reputable brokerages and lenders. If you receive a call from anyone regarding a loan application, it is NOT from creditloan.com. If you miss a call back regarding your loan application remember that the call did NOT come from creditloan.com. If you click a link on our site to go to a lender application, you are leaving our site and going to theirs. Creditloan.com does not collect personally sensitive information, and we do not make phone calls about loans. Please review our privacy policy.
If you have questions, please feel free to contact us at
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Victims of this type of fraud should contact their local authorities, and:
The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)
Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at 1-877-438-4338.
Phone Busters at 1-888-495-8501 or email
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Phone Busters is a division of the Ontario Provincial Police.
To report these fraudulent activities to us, please forward all information about the advertisement and any and all contact information this fraudulent ring made with you to
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The known contact names associated with this fraudulent scheme and gregarious misrepresentation of the authenticated creditloan.com are:
Michael Stein
Maria Foster
Ryan Jennings
Katherine Monroe
Michael Stevens
Reporting these types of crimes are essential. Many are ashamed to admit that they have been conned by such schemes, failing to report the fraud due to embarrassment. Those that do not make these crimes known leave the door open for these predators to strike again. While reporting such crimes does not always assure that the scam artist is caught, it does raise awareness of these schemes, shrinking their pool of potential victims. Filing a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission can be done online in approximately ten minutes. This small investment of your time can help towards shutting these operations down before they victimize scores of other unsuspecting consumers.
External Resources:
Advance Fee Loan Fraud
Fraud.org
Scammers have become increasingly sophisticated in creating fraudulent documents that look authentic. These ads often appear to be from legitimate companies and include images and logos of these organizations. Following are some common characteristics of fraudulent ads:
1. They have an urgent tone.
2. They often have a sense of urgency telling clients that if they fail to act quickly, or verify / confirm their personal or account information, the loan offer will be suspended. ID Theft Rings typically ask for personal or account information such as:
3. Account numbers
4. Credit and Check Card numbers
5. Social Security Numbers
6. Online banking sign on IDs and passwords
7. Mother's maiden name
8. They ask you to send in fees for "insurance" to secure the "loan"
9. Date of birth
10. Other sensitive information
11. They forward you "loan" documents that appear legitimate.
12. They often include in the ads a legitimate company's name or Web address. Always type Web addresses into your browser instead of sending money to the thieves. Then look for any "ID theft alerts" on the website and follow all the suggestions they advise to capture the thieves -- quickly.
13. They forge legitimate loan officers or employees signatures.
14. The fraudulent ads will disguise or forge the thefts rings real address so they appear to be from a legitimate company.
15. They often use incorrect grammar on their "loan documents".
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