Protect Yourself and Report the Latest Frauds, Scams, Spams, Fakes, Identify Theft Hacks and Hoaxes
There are affiliate links on this page.
Read our disclosure policy to learn more.
Have you received an email or postal letter from 866-718-3046 at CityLending.net offering you a debt consolidation loan, student loan, mortgage, small business loans or a great credit card rate? The rate is incredibly low, they say they need very little documentation and can get you money fast? It is probably a scam. The offer and their websites (if they have one) may even look real, except they will quickly ask you for personal financial information, social security number, bank account numbers, in addition to your name, address, phone numbers, etc.
Also see this page on Scholarship, Student Loan and Financial Aid scams!
I received a phone call from Joshua Bradley, Senior Loan Consultant, offering me a loan of $5000.00 and for me to get the loan I would have to pay 8 months of payments first then they would send me the money and I wouldn't have to make my first payment for 8 months. I declined at first but he talked me into it after sending me a contract that stated I would receive the money the next day after sending the money. Well after several conversations and listing to his well planned scam, I agreed and sent him the money (944.16). He instructed me to send it to a Lucy Gibson in Killarney Manitoba, Canada. I sent it to them in a Money Gram from Walmart. After sending the money I called this Bradley fellow back and told him the money was sent and he said my money would be in my bank account the next day. Well it wasn't and I called him and he couldn't understand why. He then transferred me to a David Moore, Office Manager. He told me the money was not sent and that the company that was giving me the loan, insurance company reccommended I send another 8 months of payments to get the loan. Well I went off and called a scammer and wanted my money back now. He got upset and said everything was in the contract. He asked him if I wanted my money back I said yes. He said I would have to wait 2 to 3 weeks which he stated I would have my refund by March 10, 2008. Didn't get it. These two guys have their game down pat and are very good. There telephone number used was 866-718-3046, Fax 703-889-5121 and website was www.CITYLENDING.NET. I called their phone today and it says my Universal Office account has temperarily on hold, call customer service but gives no number to call. I have sent about 5 faxes to the number given that have gone through but no response back. If you need any of the papers I received and sent to these guys let me know and I will fax them to you. Thank You
We advised him to file a police report, call the FBI and file a complaint with the state attorney general and the Better Business Bureau.
No legitimate loan business would use a Western Union wire for this type of transaction. Since it appears as though a crime has been committed, you should start by filing a report with your local police. They may direct you to the FBI. If you want to simultaneously contact the FBI, here is how to find the local FBI office: https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/FBI_LocalOffices.php .
If you paid any money via credit card, contact your credit card company immediately and ask to dispute the charges (generally they must be within 60 days). If you paid by Western Union or Money Gram, it is almost impossible to recover the money.
If the company that defrauded you is located in the United States or Canada, file a complaint with the www.BetterBusinessBureau.org ; they are pretty effective at getting refunds from legiitimate companies (obvious not successful with criminal scammers).
And finally, you can contact your state attorneys general office to notify them to the scam. See this page: https://www.consumerfraudreporting.org/stateattorneygenerallist.php
The scammer sends you an email or letter, or you respond to an advertisement on tv, radio, newspaper, magazine or online. The ad often uses the names of large, reputable and well-recognized lenders. To respond to the advertisement, victims are directed to call a "third-party consultant" who solicits application information including social security numbers. During this telephone call, the "loan" is always approved.
The "third-party consultant" then faxes a loan package to the victim, or directs the victim to a website to enter the information. The package includes a request for bank account information.
Finally, victims must wire a required advance payment or a deposit through Western Union or Money Gram to the consultant. The victim never obtains a loan, and the scammer disappears with the application fees and down payments.
See this page for much more information about this type of scam.