Earlier this month I desperatly searched for a personal loan, i knew with my credit score it was going to be difficult but I was praying. On July 5th Derek Thomas from Allied Financial Future. left me a voicemail saying I was approved for a "10, 000 US" I thought it was strange he didn't say ten thousand dollars, but I called him back. Derek Thomas told me I was approved for a $10, 000 USD loan at a fixed interest rate of 8% and because of my credit rating I had to secure the loan and he gave me 3 opitions:
1. Pay the first 4 payments up front for a 5 year loan
2. Pay the first 4 payments up front for a 6 year loan
3. Take out the insurance they offer that will cover the payments if I lose my job, etc. that cost was $800.00
I went with option 3. He faxed me the loan documents, I read over them, they looked official, signed and faxed them back along with a copy of my drivers license.
I told him I would not be able to send the $800 to secure the loan until July 14th.
On July 12th he called me and asked if I was still able to secure it and I told him yes I could do it on the 13th rather than the 14th. He said to call him 10 minutes before I go to the Western Union to send the money.
When I got to the Western Union I called him. He told me what form to fill out and at that time I told him there was a warning on the form about sending money to secure loans. He assured me the loan was legit and verified all my information. Naive me, believed him and went ahead with the transfer. He told me to call him back once the tranfer was complete and he would verify receipt. He said the receipient's name to put on the form is Cathy Wilson in Calgary, ALberta, Canada.
I thought this was odd but he said that is the person who collects the money for the lender. When finished with the transfer I called back and he was on his way to the back (what he told) to verify the funds. I heard traffic noise, or so I thought so I believed him. He said he would call me back in 10 minutes to verify everything is ok and the money will be in my account by close of business.
A few hours later I still hadn't heard from him, so I called the number on the paperwork 1-866-884-4186 and got his voicemail. About 5 minutes after I my call, I received a call from Michelle Carter from Allied Financial on my work #. She said she was the Senior Loan Officer and wanted to apologize, but Mr. Thomas made a mistake and the amount to secure my loan is $1100.00, not $800.00. I would need to send an additional $300 as soon as possible because the third party lender already secured my loan for the $1100. I asked her at that time if this happens often and she told me over and over that this has never happened before and Mr. Thomas has been suspended for this matter. Well come to find out it has happened several times.
I told Michelle I would send the money the next day, which is today first thing. She said she doesn't come in until 10 and she will call me then.
At 10:05EST this morning I called the number above (the only number I have ever been given) and I got this recording, "Your universal office account has been temporarily placed on hold, please contact customer service, thank you good bye." (HUGE RED FLAG) I then went to the website alliedfinancialfuture.com and that has also been suspended. I knew right away this was a scam.
I remembered I gave Derek Thomas my checking account info so he could direct deposit the funds to my account, so immediately I went to the back and closed that account and put a fraud alert on my credit report (they have my SSN) and my bank accounts.
Believe it or not while I am standing at the bank, Michelle Carter calls me. I told her I know they are fradulant and I know all about their little scheme. She said "Excuse Me? " and I hung up.
Needless to say I haven't heard back from her and I am not $10, 000 richer, but I am very pissed and $800 poorer.
I reported the consumer fraud to Western Union, who gave me a number to call for the Phonebusters in Canada and I have reported them there as well. I am very upset and I don't understand how these people can sleep at night.
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