8778268581

Call from Ben Davis, Senior Executive loan officer, Ext 519 - You're approved....same call as all of you received.  I work for a law office and after the paperwork was faxed, I took the paperwork and had one of my business attorneys look at it.  First of all, the majority of us don't have the extra money just lying around to pay 6 month worth of payments, so red flag, second when speaking to the gentleman on the phone, and I use that term loosely, he was very vague and did not want to give me a lot of information, kept saying he would fax everything.  When I called back after the fax came through and then really questioned him and stated I had spoke to an attorney, he hung up on me and then no one answered the telephone - another red flag.

Michelle,

I did the same thing, filled out a online form, received a call from the same Jesse Wilson, He said the same thing. Thank you I will ignore his fax.

Jesse Wilson polite person on the phone, asked if I was at the Western Union office to send my 900.00 to a person in Jamaica. That was the red flag I was waiting for. I stopped everything, maybe a little to late got my personal info. But to fill in some holes the website has been up since 9/9/2009. It uses an subdomain which when I traced back the name it is registered in Mexico. I did get a call back when he did not receive the funds and was wondering if I was gong to send it. I have not seen one good write up about this "lending broker". I also tried to look up the CEO of this company and no hits on that either. I wonder where they got my name and info from to start this. They do make it sound legit, but I should of known better.

I just received a call from a James Swanson saying that i was approved for a 5000.00 loan. I'm so glad that i looked this up because he asked for 5 months prepayment from me.It sounded soo legit. He is faxing my papers tomorrow 9/30/2009. Does anyone know if these people can be sued fo a scam like this ? Thanks to all who posted here because my money is hard earned and for these punks to be taking advantage of people in these stressful economic times is wrong and they should be prosecuted to the fullest.

Good morning, thanks to you guys I have gracefully decided not to go through with this so called loan. I received a call from Jessie Wilson as well and I'm so glad I never called  him back I googled the Company and this is what came up so thank you guys for the pre warning and I hope they get what they deserve.

After filling out hundreds of online loan applications (yeah, I really need a loan!) I was contacted by Ben Davis who, through the course of several phone conversations, was able to get me approved for $10,000.  He was super-friendly and sounded legit in all his conversation.  As I am writing this post I am sitting in a Wal-mart parking lot where, if I had not found this link, I would have proceeded with the loan process by wiring $1519.45 by whatever means I was instructed to wherever I was told. Yeah, I need the money badly, but it seems I'll have to keep looking.  Ben's voice sounded professional and reassuring, somewhat hypnotic.  I actually thought he cared about my situation. I hope that justice is served for all involved. Please post any info. on how we can fight this kind of scam. I really wish this were legit...

I just received a call today from Ben Davis the call came thru as private, but he identified himself and his company. Stated that this was not a pre-approval call but that I had already been approved for a loan in the amount of 5K, he discussed several different loan types secured and signature, offered a really attractive interest rate for someone with bad credit 8%, also gave me monthly payment of less than 157/per month, I was so relieved. Then he continued to talk about the private investors and that they had the funds in a non-interest earning account at Eastgate and that I had to act quickly, this started to alarm me. He stated that private investors were more penny pinching then him or I and they would pass the funds to another potential client that may need them. He knew that the 6 month pre-paymnt for the insurance policy for the private lender would be a hurdle for me but it depended on how important this loan was to me. He also stated he would fax me paperwork and that he was here to work with me. Again I was approved and this was all I needed to do and the turn around time for the loan could be as quick as one day. I started researching, and I found this site! Thank goodness.

Advanced Fee Loan Scams - - Federal Trade Commission website has info on all the SCAMS out there.  But most never bother to THAT WEBSITE before being scammed


Just When You Thought It Was Safe...Advance-Fee Loan "Sharks"
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/alerts/alt028.shtm

Just When You Thought It Was Safe...Advance-Fee Loan "Sharks"
A different breed of "loan shark" is preying on unwary consumers by taking their money for the promise of a loan, credit card or other extension of credit.

Advertisements and promotions for advance-fee loans "guarantee" or suggest that there's a high likelihood of success that the loan will be awarded, regardless of the applicant's credit history. But, to take advantage of the offer, the consumer first has to pay a fee. And that's the catch: The consumer pays the fee, the scam artist takes off with the money, and the loan never materializes.

Legitimate guaranteed offers of credit do not require payments up front. Legitimate lenders may require consumers to pay application, appraisal or credit report fees, but these fees seldom are required before the lender is identified and the application completed. In addition, the fees generally are paid to the lender, not to the broker or arranger of the "guaranteed" loan.

Legitimate lenders may guarantee firm offers of credit to credit-worthy consumers, but they rarely do this before evaluating a consumer's creditworthiness.

Advertisements for advance-fee loans generally appear in the classified section of daily and weekly newspapers and magazines. Often, the ads feature "900" numbers, which result in charges on your phone bill. Advance-fee loans also are promoted through direct mail and radio and cable TV spots. The appearance of ads in media outlets that you recognize - like your local newspaper or radio station - is no guarantee of the legitimacy of the company behind the ad.

The Federal Trade Commission says you can avoid being bitten by advance-fee loan sharks: Here's how:

Don't pay for a promise. It's illegal for companies doing business by phone to promise you a loan and ask you to pay for it before they deliver.
Ignore any ad - or hang up on any caller - that guarantees a loan in exchange for an advance fee. Legitimate lenders never "guarantee" or say that you will receive a loan before you apply, especially if you have bad credit or no credit record.
Never give your credit card or bank account numbers, or Social Security Number, over the telephone unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.
The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

May 2000

Advance-Fee Loan Scams: ‘Easy’ Cash Offers Teach Hard Lessons
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel16.shtm
Advance-Fee Loan Scams: ‘Easy’ Cash Offers Teach Hard Lessons
Looking for a loan or credit card but don’t think you’ll qualify? Turned down by a bank because of your poor credit history?

You may be tempted by ads and websites that guarantee loans or credit cards, regardless of your credit history. The catch comes when you apply for the loan or credit card and find out you have to pay a fee in advance. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation’s consumer protection agency, that could be a tip-off to a rip-off. If you’re asked to pay a fee for the promise of a loan or credit card, you can count on the fact that you’re dealing with a scam artist. More than likely, you’ll get an application, or a stored value or debit card, instead of the loan or credit card.

The Signs of an Advance-Fee Loan Scam
The FTC says some red flags can tip you off to scam artists’ tricks. For example:

A lender who isn’t interested in your credit history. A lender may offer loans or credit cards for many purposes — for example, so a borrower can start a business or consolidate bill payments. But one who doesn’t care about your credit record should give you cause for concern. Ads that say “Bad credit? No problem” or “We don’t care about your past. You deserve a loan” or “Get money fast” or even “No hassle — guaranteed” often indicate a scam.
Banks and other legitimate lenders generally evaluate creditworthiness and confirm the information in an application before they guarantee firm offers of credit — even to creditworthy consumers.
Fees that are not disclosed clearly or prominently. Scam lenders may say you’ve been approved for a loan, then call or email demanding a fee before you can get the money. Any up-front fee that the lender wants to collect before granting the loan is a cue to walk away, especially if you’re told it’s for “insurance,” “processing,” or just “paperwork.”

Legitimate lenders often charge application, appraisal, or credit report fees. The differences? They disclose their fees clearly and prominently; they take their fees from the amount you borrow; and the fees usually are paid to the lender or broker after the loan is approved.

It’s also a warning sign if a lender says they won’t check your credit history, yet asks for your personal information, such as your Social Security number or bank account number. They may use your information to debit your bank account to pay a fee they’re hiding.
A loan that is offered by phone. It is illegal for companies doing business in the U.S. by phone to promise you a loan and ask you to pay for it before they deliver.
A lender who uses a copy-cat or wanna-be name. Crooks give their companies names that sound like well-known or respected organizations and create websites that look slick. Some scam artists have pretended to be the Better Business Bureau or another reputable organization, and some even produce forged paperwork or pay people to pretend to be references. Always get a company’s phone number from the phone book or directory assistance, and call to check they are who they say they are. Get a physical address, too: a company that advertises a PO Box as its address is one to check out with the appropriate authorities.
A lender who is not registered in your state. Lenders and loan brokers are required to register in the states where they do business. To check registration, call your state Attorney General’s office or your state’s Department of Banking or Financial Regulation. Checking registration does not guarantee that you will be happy with a lender, but it helps weed out the crooks.
A lender who asks you to wire money or pay an individual. Don’t make a payment for a loan or credit card directly to an individual; legitimate lenders don’t ask anyone to do that. In addition, don’t use a wire transfer service or send money orders for a loan. You have little recourse if there’s a problem with a wire transaction, and legitimate lenders don’t pressure their customers to wire funds.

Finally, just because you’ve received a slick promotion, seen an ad for a loan in a prominent place in your neighborhood or in your newspaper, on television or on the Internet, or heard one on the radio, don’t assume it’s a good deal — or even legitimate. Scam artists like to operate on the premise of legitimacy by association, so it’s really important to do your homework.
Finding Low-Cost Help for Credit Problems
If you have debt problems, try to solve them with your creditors as soon as you realize you won’t be able to make your payments. If you can’t resolve the problems yourself or need help to do it, you may want to contact a credit counseling service. Nonprofit organizations in every state counsel and educate people and families on debt problems, budgeting, and using credit wisely. Often, these services are low- or no-cost. Universities, military bases, credit unions, and housing authorities also may offer low- or no-cost credit counseling programs. To learn more about dealing with debt, including how to select a credit counseling service, visit ftc.gov/credit.


Where to Complain
If you think you’ve had an experience with an advance-fee loan scam, report it to the FTC.

The FTC works for the consumer to prevent fraudulent, deceptive, and unfair business practices in the marketplace and to provide information to help consumers spot, stop, and avoid them. To file a complaint or to get free information on consumer issues, visit ftc.gov or call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP (1-877-382-4357); TTY: 1-866-653-4261. The FTC enters consumer complaints into the Consumer Sentinel Network, a secure online database and investigative tool used by hundreds of civil and criminal law enforcement agencies in the U.S. and abroad.

April 2008

I also received a call from Heather at eastgate lending on sept. 15, i got the contract the next day and had several people look at it. it looked legit. the interest rate was only 8% which surprised me since i had bad credit. they told me i was approved for a 60,000 loan to buy a house. i only had to give them 5900. down in a good faith to show that i would pay my monthly payments, since i would have to put down that much on a mortgage, i unfortunatly sent it to them. when i got to walmart to money gram the money, i was told to send it to me investor in canada, which should have sent up red flags, but unfortunatly it didnt. i sent it on friday sept. 18, i was told i would get my loan directly deposited into my bank this monday or tuesday. on monday i didn't get it, so on tuesday when i didn't get it, i called and was told that their computer servers were down and they couldn't wire any money. on wednesday, the same story. on thursday sept. 24, i received a call from Heather telling me that the system was back up and i would get my money that day. later that morning, i got a call from a Michael Flemming, he was very rude and left me a message telling me there was a problem with my account and to call him. i assumed that they had gotten my bank account info wrong and there was a problem with the wire. when i called him back, he stated that unless i sent them another 5900. the investor couldn't get my loan insured. when i told him that there was no way i was sending them anymore money and that i wanted my money back, he told me i couldn't get it back until Oct.19. I contacted my loan officer, Heather, and she said she had no idea what was going on, she supposedly talked to Michael and called me back saying that he is the customer service manager and he is above her so i would have to deal with him. since then, i have contacted fox 2 problem solvers, the attorney general and fbi internet crimes- www.ic3.gov. i also called my prepaid legal service and am still waiting for calls back from everyone to find out what to do now.

They are not a legitimate company. I got a person with the alias Ben Davis. Report them immediately! It is against the law for any lender to ask for money up front.

I am considering doing this. Can u give me a reason,a good reason why I shouldn't try this. Will I get my money back?

I have the same question. has anyone had any success with this company. If u have please let us who really need a loan know.

What exactly did they do.  Did you send the money and never got a loan?  Please tell us.

Yes, please let us know what exactly happened.  This is my only recourse otherwise I'm screwed.  Please advise...

I too received a call from this "Eastgate Lending Company" with an approved loan for $5000 with 6 months payment up front.  After talking to my own advisor he cautioned me that a business that asks for money up front is a scam and do not be taken in by them.

I received a phone call from a Mr. James Swanson too. This was after I completed an online form for a loan to consolidate my bills.  He seemed like a genuine person so I went along with it and he faxed me over a loan form with accurate numbers which seemed to make sense.  However the catch was that i needed to send 7 months advance of payments in order to receive the loan.  He stated that this was because of my poor credit history that I needed to make the advance payments as a good faith payment. I was about to send the payment today before I saw this site.
Let me ask, has anyone sent money and actually received it back??
I told him that I found this site and asked about what was going on? He said that he can't control what people write and if all this information were true how could the company still be in business and someone would have reported their office to the police department and they would be out of business! Does anyone have any additional information on this company???

I just got the paperwork faxed to me today. $20,000 loan at 8% interest rate. I talked to my parents and my fiance's parents to get their opinion on it because it sounded too good to be true. They both told us NO don't do it. I was mad at first because it seemed so legit. But I came online to find their site and see if it seemed real or like a scam. Then I found all these posts. I am SO thankful that all of you have reported this. I am going to call Heather Landry tomorrow and tell her never to contact me again, I hope they don't have any of my personal information, I almost want to close out everything since I am pretty sure they have my SSN.

Hey guys, it is a scam.  My representative was Ben Davis also and he sounded very legitimate.  I was approved for $20,000 and needed to secure it with a payment of $1700.  This would cover the first eight monthly payments and then that amount would be deducted from the $20,000.  Sounds fair, right.  I mean I am a student and not very good credit, so sounded like a deal.  He faxed me a contract which looked very legitimate and asked me to read it very carefully and sign it and fax it back with a valid drivers license. He called me the following day and said it was all in order and that I could either mail them a money order or if I wanted the funds within 1 to 2 days Western Union was the best bet.  Hey, why wait?  I wanted the money now.  He said to call him once I got to
Western Union so he could help me fill out the form.  I asked him who was it going to be written out to and he said just wait until you get there and call me, just make sure you pick out the red form not the blue form.  Okay, so I get there and looked at the forms.  The red one is to send to an individual person and the blue one was for a business.  So then my gut started feeling why am I getting a form to pay to an invidual.  Anyway, I called Ben and he said to make it out to Carlene Thomas in Ontario Canada.  Again my gut felt weird.  I asked him why to her and why in Canada?  He got a little testy and said we've discussed this that they use silent lenders and she's the one that offered to finance my loan.  So then he said you can even show the agreement to an attorney and they will verify that we are legitimate.  Okay, so he said to call him back with the tracking number once I sent it.  So when I went to send it the clerk kept asking me do you know these people?  And I said yes, she just seemed hesitate, and asking me if I was sure.  But I didn't want anything getting in my way of being debt free.  After a while the owenr of the Western Union came out and asked me a lot of questions about this and said they do not recomment that I send it.  It is a lot of money and they have seen so many scams.  They even had it imprinted on the front of the form "DO NOT SEND MONEY IF YOU WERE APPROVED FOR A CREDIT CARD OR LOAN"  No legitimate company requires money up front before they lend you money.  They looked at the contract and still felt it was bogus.  Well they did their part and I still wanted to do it anyway.  I mean when your desparate you don't think rationnaly.  They go ahead and start the transaction and tell me I have to pay $109 extra to send it.  Well, I only had the exact amount of $1770 in my checking account and I asked them if I could pay the fee on my credit card.  They said no the transaction has to be all on the same method of payment. (this was a sign).  So I left and went home and borrowed the money from my sister and deposited in my account.  I was then on my way back to proceed with the transaction when I get a flat tire.  (another sign).  After getting my tire fixed it was too late they were closing.  I called Ben and told him if the offer was still good if I waited until the next day.  And he said I'll see what I can do but I'm pretty sure we can.  That night after already feeling these signs, I started looking them up and their were a lot of websites disclosing all these pay up front loan scams.  Their website looks legitimate but if you look at the year it was created it says 2009.  When I asked Ben how long they had been in business he said 10 years.  They are not part of BBB and they just keep changing their names and office locations and start up under another name.  They take your money and you can keep calling them and they say that your lender needs an additional deposit from you since your credit is bad in order to secure the loan.  They just delay the process and keep asking you for more money.  Don't do it.  You keep calling and they will disconnect their phones and the address they have listed is not legitimate.  Another strange thing is these numbers are listed in Canada and our laws do not apply their.  Their phone service prompts you to state your name so you can't harass them afterwards.  Then shortly afterwards they move on as another company.  Okay, I am sorry to go on.  But I am sure we are all in the same boat.  We need money to get through school or whatever, and that is what they prey on.  Vulnerable people like us.  Good luck.  Also be careful with the drivers license part.  They make fake ID's with all these names in order to pick the Western Union checks.  It's bizarr. How do they sleep at night.  I hope this helps.  We all need to report them.

Recieved a phone call from a man named Ben Davis said that I was approved for a loan with out asking for a credit check and was approved for 85,000.00 and all I needed to do was send 6 mo. prepayment and would get the 85,000.00 released to me in two days after he got my 6 mo. down payment the loan papers where 3 pages which hard to believe that it was that easy.  Tried looking them up and can not find any information on them or Ben Davis the number they called me from is 877-826-8581 ext 519

I got a call from some guy named Michael Barrie and also told me I was approved for a 15,000 loan after filling out an application with a company called United Trust Financial. They wanted 6 months of payments upfront and also wanted me to send them the money western union. I really needed the loan but I guess I won't get one now. I'm glad I found this out before I got scammed. We work Hard for our money and it's ashamed that people will take advantage of hard working people who are struggling.