New Scam Hits Colo. Springs
A new scam has been uncovered in Colorado Springs, and targets its victims through newspapers.
The advertisement offers everything from debt consolidations to personal loans followed by a toll free phone number.
Terrance Lacey ran across the ad in the Colorado Springs Independent on Thursday and contacted the provided number.
Lacey said a representative called him back on Friday and identified themselves as being associated with the loan provider ?Quicken Loans.?
?They called me back, told me that I?d been approved on a loan and that they can have the money deposited and in the books within one hour,? said Lacey.
According to the representative, Lacey was approved for a personal loan in the amount of $5,000.
Lacey said he was faxed several pages of documentation, which he filled out. Lacey said copies of his driver?s license, social security card and bank statements were also requested.
When the money was not deposited in Lacey?s account, he said he called back.
?At that time, she told me that there was a $500 loan insurance fee on the policy,? said Lacey.
According to Lacey, the representative requested he send the money via Western Union to a specified person. Lacey said he became concerned that the recipient did not appear to be affiliated with Quicken Loans.
?The third red flag is telling me you?re going to be able to have the funds deposited on my account on a weekend over the holiday period. I just don?t quite buy that,? said Lacey.
Lacey said he began calling other Quicken Loans. He said Quicken Loans told him they do not provide personal loans, and that they only deal in home loans.
?I discovered that this is indeed a fraudulent company and that there is no loan coming,? said Lacey.
The company confirmed to KRDO Newschannel 13 that this is a scam, and that it plans on investigating and prosecuting the scammers. Quicken Loans said it is a victim of this scam too, saying they are misrepresented in a negative light.
KRDO Newschannel 13 attempted to contact the fraudulent company, but were unable to get through.
KRDO Newschannel 13 looked at the documentation the company provided and the address, located in Lauderhill, Fla., does not seem to exist within the ZIP code provided.
