Despite my usual skepticism & even following my preliminary checks on this company/website I was fooled by people who appeared to be very professional & legitimate. I was offered a loan for $10, 000 at a very reasonable interest rate & monthly payment, but- of course- haven't received the funds.
Since I (turns out wisely) didn't offer personal collateral, I was given the option to secure insurance to cover my loan. Which, in hindsight, explains why the qualifications for a co-signer (must have had at least a 750 credit score & minimum income of $55, 000/yr.) were so unrealistic. They WANT you to get the insurance- that's how they get the cash.
I wired the cash, (over $1, 000) via Western Union (where it's virtually non-traceable) to an "Onika Samuels" in Toronto, allegedly to go to "Pineridge Insurance Company".
I've seen the name Samuels in other reports, but the first name was different. The agents I worked with were "Sylvia Stamp" & later "Karen Mercer". I faxed over 10 pages of paperwork, it was processed, I wired the payment, & was told the deposit would be in my account within 48 hours. It wasn't & still isn't.
I've left several unanswered messages & faxes to Alpha. Now when I call Mercer or Stamp, I get voicemails (which are now "too full to receive new messages") & the main phone number screeches in your ear & never connects.
I've made very hard-to-get-to-this-point peace with the notion that I probably won't recover my hard-earned money, but I've filed local police reports & am filing with the FBI, & will participate in whatever legal action necessary to apprehend this group of frauds. I've also learned that checking things out is good, but I should recheck, & recheck the recheck.
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