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
Even the best of us who research can get burned and I did. I received a call from Sara Stevens with Eagle Limited Financial Inc regarding a personal loan. I had filled out some information online to receive rates on a personal loan. I desperately needed the $5000 she told me I was approved to get, as I have bills to catch up and I going through a divorce.
The phone number I was given was 888-989-8557 and her extension was 465. The fax number I was told to fax the signed contract to was 800-463-8083.
When I received the contract, it looked completely legitimate, had Rita Bailey listed at the President and Stewart Granville listed as the Senior Vice President. There was nothing irregular about the terms or conditions, so I completed the contract and sent it back. Along with that, I sent a copy of my pay stub, drivers license and bank account number for the direct deposit I was promised that I would receive within 48 hours of them receiving the $700 for the insurance policy for me to repay my loan. With bad credit it is not unusual for a guarantee to be 'expected,' from what some friends have told me.
So, on Monday June 2, I sent the $700 via Western Union to Rob MacDonald in Toronto Ontario Canada, and it was picked up within 2 hours of me sending it. I contacted Sara back, told her everything went through and she said that the funds were being released as of 5:30PM on Monday, and I should expect them within 24 - 48 hours direct deposited to my bank account.
It is now June 4 at 11:45AM and no funds, no return phone calls, no nothing.
After re-reading this website and plugging in the fax number, that's when i found out that this was probably a scam.
I have filed a complaint with the BB in Washington DC where they say their office is. The numbers listed on the BBB website go to some electrical company, and the fax number is not listed.
I sent emails to the email listed at the website, and it just bounces back. I have called the number back, tried to enter other extensions and there are no other extensions.
It looks like they are constantly changing names so that rip off reports can't pick them up. I hope that no one else gets taken by this scam.
Update:
She says that the lender reports a hold-up on the transfer of the money. I ask what the hold up is, she says she doesnt know but she is contacting the lender. I ask when she expects to hear from the lender. She says shortly.
I then tell her that I have done some research on the internet with the phone number that pops up from caller ID and their fax number and it goes to bogus companies/rip-offs. She says that there were other companies, blah blah blah. I told her that it has been 48 hours since this was processed and that the money should have been in there already. She disagreed, but I guess we all have different ways of keeping time.
So I tell her I have field a complaint with the Ohio AG's office and Ripoffreport.com and the BBB of Washington DC. She says that I am irresponsible for slandering their good name. I say if this is not a scam, then put the money into the account and I will personally retract all the reports and put onto the internet that this company is legit and sing your praises and tell 156 posts on Google that this company is for real. She said she would call me back once she spoke with the lender.
So, I wait and wait and wait for a phone call I do not expect to get.
Update2
So much for 'hearing from the lender very soon.' She says that she has contacted the lender to make sure it will happen today. I told her I would be calling back in about two hours to see what the status was. I am not going to sit around and wait for her to call me.
I am honest - if this turns out to be a real deal, then I will sing it from the tops of the mountains and trees! If it is a scam, I will personally see to it that they are taken down.
Update3
Imagine that, no calls on Wednesday or Thursday after I have left multiple messages.
Guess I wasn't wrong about that company.
I have filed a police report for fraud with the Columbus Police Dept. in addition to contacting and filing a complaint with the Attorney General's office in Ohio and filed a complaint with the BBB in Washington DC, where they are listed as a company.
So, I hope that others read this report before sending them any money.
I doubt I will ever see the money, either the deposit or the promised loan.
Shame on scammers, you will get it in the end...and I hope the AG's Office catches you.
Here are the hints that this is a scam:
"I was promised that I would receive within 48 hours of them receiving the $700 for the insurance policy for me to repay my loan. With bad credit it is not unusual for a guarantee to be 'expected,' from what some friends have told me."
Legitimate lenders do NOT require paying them hundreds of dollars up front, for "insurance", "fees", or whatever. That would be 14% off the top, an absurd amount for a $5000 loan.
"$700 via Western Union"
Sending money to some stranger via Western Union is a sure sign of a scam. Some state AGs have reached settlements with Western Union requiring them to post signs warning of such scams.
"Toronto Ontario Canada"
Many "advance fee" loan scams are cross-border, having you wire money to Canada, often to the Toronto area. Others use addresses near the Canadian border, either convenient Western Union offices on the U.S. side for wire transfers, or mail services just inside the U.S in places like Champlain NY.
Since they appear to be based in Canada, contact the RCMP. They appear to have a fraud group working on tracking such Canadian based scammers.
Fax#9736794924
The # I was contacted from 201-490-1609 which is in Jersey
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080409090551AAvlW6p
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/26218/page/3
http://www.419baiter.com/_scam_emails/09-02d/ ... loan-scam.shtml
If you can pay $1000 a month, they ought to be able to squeeze two payments of about $1200 out of you before they disappear.
Do you want to pay off your bills?
Do you want to be financially stable?
All you have to do is to contact us for more information on how to get
started and get the loan you desire.
This offer is open to all that will be able to repay back in due time.
Note-that repayment time frame is negotiable and at interest rate of
2%.
You are expected to inform us of the exact loan amount requested so as to
enable us provide you with the Loan Terms and Conditions. if you are
interested in obtaining loan from our firm.
Please, do complete the short application form given below and we
promised to help you out in any financial needs you are in
LOAN APPLICATION FORM { ONLINE FORM }
1)YOUR NAME...................
2)YOUR COUNTRY................
3)YOUR OCCUPATION.............
4)YOUR MARITAL STATUS.........
5)PHONE NUMBER................
6)MONTHLY INCOME..............
7)ADDRESS.....................
8)PURPOSE OF LOAN.............
9)LOAN REQUEST................
10)LOAN DURATION..................
Contact Email:tonyfinance8041@yahoo.com
LINK FINANCE LIMITED
THANKS,
Mr Tony Hogan