Personal Loan
Complaint
Ashley Burnside
Country: United States
Starworth Financial in New York is a total scam. They had me wire over $1600.00 up front for a personal loan and then tried to have me wire even more money before they would give me a $5,000 personal loan. Money is gone, didn't get my loan and now they won't return my calls.
Comments
They often set up some U.S. mail drop as an address, often in New York state, with their mail forwarded to some Canadian address across the border.
It is also common to have you wire the money via Western Union, so you can't yank it back from their bank account. In some states, Western Union has settled with state AG's in connection with these scams, and may be required to notify people wiring money that fits certain patterns that it may be a scam.
Asking for an amount around $800 to $1000 up front, often allegedly for "insurance", or "advanced payments", followed by a second request for a similar amount, is also a common pattern. (Why not? You fell for the first. "In for a penny, in for a pound") At that amount, it would probably cost each consumer more than that to try to sue them, in another country, and they would be prepared to skip or change names anyway if you won, so any attorney would tell you it's unlikely you would collect. $1600 as first "payment" is higher than usual (usually they start around $600-$800), but there are a lot of desperate people around these days, with sub-prime mortgage problems, so they may be getting greedy.
Contact the FTC, the New York Attorney General, and your own state AG, to file a complaint. Also file a BBB complaint, since the BBB report on "Starworth" currently shows them out of business.
In fact, don't just send complaints. Call. You might find out more talking to FTC or someone in your AG's office, since they may already have complaints, or they might even have settled a prior case with one of the perpetrators, and might be interested in any violations of any settlement agreements. FTC, in particular, had a joint crackdown against cross-border loan scams about a year ago, working with Canadian authorities and the U.S. Postal Inspector.
How did you find them? Internet, advertisement in a publication, or telemarketing call?
Did you talk to them on the phone? What line of bull did they give you? What names did they use?
What contact information did they provide? Website, telephone number, mailing address?
How did they have you send payment? Western Union? In what city and state? Sent to what name?
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/X5NhE3vZ4QAk-gjKByuZ8Q
866-399-4148
646-536-9090
347-562-2648
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-399-4148
Many other complaints:
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/6465369090
Other names: "Michael Downs", "GREEN LINE SERVICES", "Carolanne Spencer", "RNF Lending House", "888-325-5173", "Anna Winters", "866-448-8567", "Saxton Financial Trust", "barbara kerrison", "empire financial", etc.
Not just loan scams:
"Ebay Scammers - 30 Oct 2007
These guys use fake credit cards to buy items on Ebay. There was no way for me as a seller to know this since PayPal does not give seller payment information. They bought $1400 worth of products from me and used this number when I found out the phone number attached to that address. I've contacted the Police about them and hope they bring these [***] to justice. Avoid them and avoid PayPal. PayPal is an accessory to fraud.
Caller ID: None
Caller: Balin"
And on this site Michele has been connecting the dots:
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/6465369090
"Michele - 3 Nov 2007
Oops forgot the info
646-536-9090
Claims Of Fraud linked to this phone number
Here are some company names, phone numbers, addresses, etc, with some details.
*Express Funding, Case worker, Mangus Ilsen-date 8-14-07
*Crawford Finance, Case worker, Rebecca Hillard-date 8-20-07
*Greenline services. org Case worker Brandon O'Conner date 9-21-07. Also another claim of fraud on the same case worker and company on 10-10-07. Also, case worker Michael Downs 9-7-07
*American Saving Bank issued check, from Price busters Clearing House ERT Sales of Hawaii. Case worker Mike Brown. Phone 888-224-9755 ext: 251 date 10-3-07
*"Financial Department" of what?? Case worker Victor Wilcox. Phone 1-888-862-0259 ext: 124 date 10-11-07
*Company Unknown Case worker Courney Stilles. Phone 877-764-4747 Date 10-11-07
*Prime (Trust) Solutions. Case worker Kelly Hogan. Phone 1-866-699-3066 ext: 280 Address: Allen Park, MI. Date 10-17-07 Also: Case Worker Kevin Thompson Phone: 866-699-3066 ext: 308 Date 10-20-07
*Millennium One Group. Case worker Jeff McNeil. Money Western Unioned to Sireen McDonald Date: 10-18-07
*Lotus Financial Case worker Victoria Freeman. Address: 2780 Bert Adams Rd. suite 410 Atlanta, GA. Phone: 1-800-930-7952 Fax: 404-348-4719 Date: 7-1-2005
*Springfield Lending Group. Case worker Brenda Langhorn, also Klaudia Bauer. Money sent to Victor Consuelaz in Canada. Address: 415 Congress St. Portland Maine 04101 Phone: 1-800-524-2690 ext: 804 Fax: 1-800-524-2730 Date 11-2-05
*Mega Lottery Inc. This one might get a little confusing. These people were send checks in the mail stating they had won the lottery.
* Mega Lottery Inc. Case worker Brian Smith Phone: 1-778-865-1670, 1-212-803-1700.
Las Vegas Letter, with Canadian postage stamp. Also another claim was made on Brian Smith 1-2-06
*Mega Lottery Case worker, Julie Anderson. Address: London England Phone: 0845-363-0429. Check came from Brulington, CT Date: 2-1-06
*Mega Lottery, No information was left from this claim but I wanted to share what was said to her by the case worker when the victom flat out told them she knew it was a scam. "I'm pulling your leg because I can tell your an idiot" !! Date: 2-17-2006
*Mega Lottery. I have found 5 claims so far for a Brian Chid.
1. Brian Chid Phone 1-778-865-1670 Date: 2-22-06
2. Brian Chid check came from Canada, although did not leave the number they stated that it was from Westmiester, Great Britain. Date: 2-28-06
3. Brian Chid Phone: 778-859-7359 Date: 3-10-06
4. Brian Chid, money sent to Ibe Ojimah of Vancouver, Canada. Date: 3-10-06
5. Brian Chid, but with International Lottery Sweepstakes Date: 7-18-06
*Mega Lottery "Broker In England but my check was from Fort Worth Tx
*Mega Lottery Craigorlando@elvis.com (I've gotten e-mails from @Elvis.com)
*Mega Lottery Phone: 212-803-1700, 866-558-2642 Date: 9-8-06
*Mega Lottery Inc claims of fraud dates with no further info to provide: 11-28-05, 12-19-05, 1-14-06,
*Brivia Comm Date: 7-15-07 No further Info available.
*Megal Lottery "Las Vegas letter, Canadian Stamped" Date: unknown
*Packard Financial Group. Case worker Karol Kline Phone: 696-705-8975 Money gram sent to Belville Canada- Also this person applied again and got
* United Financial Case worker Teresa Jones Phone 1-203-404-7610 Address: 1 Whitney. Ave Ste 25 New Haven,CT 06510-12 Date: 8-5-05
* Peak Funding Case worker: Joan Neville Phones: 888-265-0049, 888-265-0056 Date: 11-2-05 Also-
*Peak Funding Case worker Joann Neville Phones: 866-694-8528 Fax: 1-800-874-6208 Money gramed to Tricia Clark Address: 2981 Glenmore Ave. Calgary Albertal Canada 7g4-4c6 Date: 11-2-05
*Sync Lending Case worker: Kelly Patterson, Money sent to Brent Trent In Montreal Quebec Fax: 1-866-388-4017. Supervisor Chris Peters Address: 281 Laurier E. 6th Floor Suite 615 Montreal Quebec Date: 2-25-07
*Inhouse Financial Case worker Atonette Bryan Phone: 888-256-7845 Ext. 84 Canada Date: 3-28-07
*Financial Benefits No caseworker name, Address 1 Closter Commans , Closter New Jersay 07684 website: Weapproveeverone.com "Not in New Jersey, operate In Canada" Victom north State CA Date: 2-14-07
*Now Here are some Numbers people left without the names of company or any other useful information aside from their story. Also just some company names with no further info.
*Phones: 347-562-2648 Date: 3-6-07, 1-866-718-0301 Date: 9-7-07, 248-232-9422 Case worker Diana Lee Date: 9-23-07, 1-866-757-7921 Ext 236 Date: 10-16-07
*Mega Lottery Phones: 778-859-9664 Date: 1-14-06, "British Columbia Dates: 1-27-06, 2-1-06, 248-232-9422 Dates: 8-1-07, 9-22-07
*Company Names: Horizon Insurance Date: 10-22-07, Excel Lending 6-14-07, Fidelity Financial Credit Reasorces, Express Funding, Dinary Group, Clem Dean Group.
*Case worker Sheila Arnold Date: 4-27-07
*New Zealand Case worker John Coldwell Date: 4-20-07
References:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/150/RipOff0150698.htm
http://www.hogs4sale.com/fraud_alert.htm
http://www.scam.com/showthread.php?t=7643
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-646-536-9090
https://800notes.com/Area-Code.aspx/1-646
http://www.ixat.net/Default.asp?PageID=21&PostID=7270
http://www.viningsga.net/atlanta-mortgage-tip ... obb-county.html
http://www.complaints.com/2007/april/17/Sync_Lending_143621.htm
http://www.repsaver.com/ripoff235979.html
http://www.pissedconsumer.com/consumer-review ... 7032893630.html
My story: We were actually approve for a $100,000 loan from RNF Lending House, who claimed they got my information from Lending Tree. We got a contract E-mailed to us, we decided we couldn't afford the $700+ a month payments, so we lowered the loan to $30,000. Got a new contract, we signed it and faxed it back. She told us to send $1,990 to a Uchrun? (Not sure if that spelled right) Duru of Detroit Michigan via Westurn Union. So I did. I woke up the next morning with an awful feeling due to my brothers telling me that its strange that they are having us wire money. So I googled the 646 phone number and found all these websites. I called Western Union and had them stop transfer. I got my money back, including fees. These people don't do just loans, they do lottery scams, credit card scams, check scams... Lesson: Do Not send money to someone you don't know. EVEN with a contract.
RNF Lending House
Carolanne Spencer
Senior Financial Adjuster
Toll: 1 (888) 325-5173 ext 125
called us from 646-536-9090
Address: 352A Warren Ave
Portland, Maine 04103
Fax: 1-888-484-2165
E-mail: carolanne.spencer@rnflendinghouse.com
Website: RNFLendingHouse.com
Caller ID: 1888-325-5173
Caller: RNF Lending House
"
Large number of company aliases, and individual aliases, probably to hide the level of their activities.
Classified ads in local papers, some websites, cold calls.
Fraudulent use of legitimate company names, including a major bank.
Some scams other than advanced fee loan scams.
Tied to the same phone number.
Many reports of people who lost up to several thousand dollars.
Upfront "insurance" or "interest" payments to be paid thru Western Union.
Some connections to Canada, or to cities or states bordering on Canada.
Making of a threat to "clean out" bank account, when consumer refused to send payment.
Reports go back one year.
Aliases shown within ' '.
Excerpts from consumer reports shown in " ".
See here for original reports:
http://whocalled.us/lookup/3475622648
'Homeguard Funding'
'easyloanfinancial @ yahoo.com'
'TYLER PERRY', 'CALVIN SIMMS', 'JEFF HALL'
888-619-9497
Lottery "legal fee" scam:
'BC'S MILLION DOLLAR LOTTERY'
'Gary Tucker', 'David Coffey', 'Janet Miller'
"My dad used up all his money to pay legal fees and western union the money to them! "
'Nigerian scam':
"AvaBella Spa
scheduled appointments for 10 people. Sent check, it was for an additional 2000.00 They wanted us to cash check and send difference immediately by WU.We are reporting to FBI. This also happened to 2 other spas' that we know of in Little Rock Arkansas"
'forleen financial'
'clemsor dean'
"my friend is out $2800"
'pioneer capital inc'
'www.nafinance. us'
'NCE Financial '
'victor miles', 'Ross Roberts'
'21 Eglinton Ave East Torontro Ont M4P3A1'
416-322-1624, 416-237-2476
'forleen financial'
'shelia arnold', 'erin goodyear'
"one big scan they scammed me out of 3700.00 dollars"
"had the nerve to call me back and threathened to wipe out my bank account since they have my information"
"then someone else called me and said they were going to wipe out my account so I closed it"
'Colleen Larsen'
'colleen.larsen @ forleenfinancial. com'
888-238-4997
'Roxanne Gardner'
"send 800.00 to nova scotia canada for an insurance policy"
'COLLEEN LARSEN'
"SEND $1875.00 TO SECURE INSURANCE FOR A $10,000.00 LOAN "
'forleen'
"got me for 1000us$ sent to Canada"
'Dyna Financial'
"Wired them 1G to Canada for security"
"filed a complaint with the FTC and my cousin is a lawyer who is going to follow it up with the FBI. Problem seems to be there are many different companies and scams. I do not know why we cannot trace these phone #'s and e-mail addresses to their origins"
'Amato Capital'
'Joan Wilson'
"had to pay for an insurance policy via money gram to Nova Scotia, Canada $8,390.00"
"They even have a web site and a physical address in MN."
'Money Vault Inc'
'Alberto'
347-562-2648
888-252-5618
866-815-8157
"I spoke with an FBI agent who said that in order for a formal investigation to be launched, a certain dollar amount must have been stolen from the collective victims; this means that if not enough people report enough money being stolen, no investigation will occurr, as terrorism is currently the FBI's top priority and they can't divert agents for every "small" scam. "
'www.wachoviafs. net' (another alias stolen from another company, a major U.S. bank)
'Terra Luckett', 'Rebecca Taylor'
'Jabeka Joley in Richmond Ontario canada'
"for my loan to be processed I needed to send $1463 (insurance premium)"
"needed to pay $700 because my money was coming from the cayman islands"
"I asked my family to loan me $700 and I went to WU....At 10pm I received a call from WU telling me my money $700 was returned because Jabeka Joley shows up in their system under loan fraud. So, needless to say..I got screwed out of $1463."
'United Credit Corporation'
'Steven Baker'
'forleen financial'
"scammed me out of $6000.00 "
'Colleen Larsen', 'Roxanne Gardner', 'Shiela Arnold', 'Bridgett Freeman', 'Melanie'
'Resource Financial'
"guaranteed $5,000, sent them $1,000 "
"he told me my refund was finalized 6/21 and would be here by 7/6..."
"he says they are filing a complaint against me for the "threatening" and "racist" comments I left on their voicemail"
'LEVITATE FINANCIAL GROUP'
888-233-4610
'NCO Financial Services' (using the name of a major debt collection company)
'Victor'
'Pacific Financial'
'Crawford Financial'
347-562-2648
'Kelly Myers'
'Edison Financial Services' (Complaint alleged unauthorized use of another company's name)
"Jim
I heard they've used my company name, Edison Financial Services Inc. and directed people to our website (EdisonFinancial.com). We DO NOT COLLECT UP FRONT FEES! Don't fall for it. I will be notifying the authorities ASAP."
'Victor', 'Brad Collins'
888-802-2121, 416-765-0177, 347-562-2648
"ad in the local paper"
"said i was preapproved for 26,000.00. so ok that was all good. but they wanted me to send 675.00 as a loan insurance"
"I called western union right a way and had the payment returned to me. They did try picking it up but they had to show some I.D. some Brad Collins"
"Crawford lending, flemington nj. has website, phone number on web page and number on contract different."
"It's all a scam!!! They wanted $1800 for the insurance. My hubby and I did some research and he found out that the address they gave was owned by a lawyer. He talkes to them in the office and they told him that Crawford Lending wasn't in their building."
'Galaxy Funding'
'Euguene Stirling', 'Catherine Peterson', 'Kristen Warner', 'Donald Simmons'
800-463-8083, 866-380-3046, 646-536-9090
"wanted mw to western union 4900 dollars to Kristen Warner in Detroit , said the lenders name was Donald Simmons "
'Galaxy Funding'
'Jennifer White', 'Euguene Stirling'
'larry gusman'
"mr. moore 2007-11-30
these people posted a add in local newspaper. the guys name that is being used now is larry gusman . we was searching for a home loan and was approved for 150,000 .if we sent 900.00 for insurance .the guy seemed to know his real estate and was very convincing .so we went ahead and sent 900.00 and even made offer on house because he faxed a contract and signed it so we have a contract and letter of guarantee .stil awaiting for the loan check. I live near canada so it sounds tempting to do some head hunting."
"rnflendinghouse. com/contact.php"
From their contact page:
"352A Warren Ave.
Portland Maine 04103"
Note their phone numbers:
"Telephone:
999-999-0000
FAX:
999-999-0000"
On their FAQ page they claim:
"Is RNF Lending House a registered/regulated bank the the United States?
Yes. RNF Lending House is a fully accredited bank incorporated in the State of Michigan. We are licensed to provide loans in 45 states in the Continental United States."
Web presence, with a way to submit an "application", and a way to send a message, but no visible e-mail address, and no valid phone number.
Flemington nj
Portland Maine
Minnasota
Alleged Western Union pickup location:
Nova Scotia, Canada
East Torontro Ont
Richmond Ontario canada
Detroit
Reported actual losses (these reports alone):
$1400
$2800
$3700
$1000
$8390
$1463
$6000
$1000
$ 900
------
$26653
Reported actual losses (these reports alone):
$1600
1400
2800
3700
1000
8390
1463
6000
1000
900
--------
$28253
You can do it easily, on-line, at ftc.gov
The problem if you don't is that law enforcement will assume that because the level of activity appears low, they are not worth the time to pursue, when the reality is they are racking up substantial amounts of money, just hiding it behind multiple names.
It looks like they are still operating, under these names and phone numbers:
https://800notes.com/articles/News.aspx/MfcAL41K5QCFbwjJ-ZExJw
'Stalworth Financial Svc' (probably Starworth)
866-399-4148
347-562-2648
646-536-9090
The Onyx Group
347-562-2648
https://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/3475622648
"Advance fee" loan scam:
347-562-2648
personal one Financial
"Apartment deposit" scam thru craigslist:
347 562 2647
514 588 2446
514 616 1760
"m kelly - 14 Dec 2007
Claimed he was subletting an apartment on craigslist in New York City. Wanted a deposit to secure the place and didn't show up for the appointment. Other phone lines are 514 588 2446 as well as 514 616 1760. Claimed to be from Montreal. I'm out a grand.
Caller ID: 3475622647
Caller: Nomen Ouhadi"
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-888-325-5173
$1600
1400
2800
3700
1000
8390
1463
6000
1000
900
831
990
4000
2100
--------
$36174