An Alert to Accredited Businesses & Employees
The 809 Area Code Scam is for real. It is being distributed throughout the United States and Canada.
If you receive an E-mail, phone call, page, or other means of communication, alerting you to call this area code for one of these reasons: a sick relative or friend, you’ve won a sweepstakes or lottery, you have outstanding debt and if you don’t call immediately, your credit score could be in jeopardy, you are being considered for employment, they want you to become a mystery shopper, or a variety of other ploys…you could easily become the victim. Foreign countries are now using US area codes, so consumers are being tricked to calling a number that will cost them in the long run.
Other area codes are being used as well, so beware and do not call or respond if something shows up! Check it out first.
Here’s how it works: Once the victim places a call, he is connected to a fax machine, lengthy recorded message, or a pay-per-call service with a hefty up-front fee, all intended to keep him on the line as long as possible while the clocks tick and charges mount. The scammer’s foreign phone company then bills the victim via his local phone company, splitting the monies collected with the scammers and leaving the victim little or no recourse since the foreign phone company operates outside US jurisdiction and is not subject o US laws.
A victim might realistically be taken for $25 to $100, but there have been higher amounts.
Alerts have been posted at the site of the National Fraud Information Center alerting businessmen especially to “fax back” solicitations employing the 809 callback trick, as well as other web sites. Consumers can also contact the Federal Communications Commission to file a complaint.
Scammers are working 24/7. They are not slowing down. They are consistently looking for ways to clean you out. Think before you act. All it takes is a few minutes of your time to get the right answers. Use your common sense at all times and in all situations. Call or go online and let your BBB assist you!
BBB Identifies Fake Lender Victimizing Consumers
Fort Wayne, Indiana [February 7, 2008] – A fake lender is victimizing consumers throughout the country by illegally requesting advance fees on loans.
BBBs across the country has been receiving significant consumer inquiries as well as complaints against a new advance fee lender claiming to be from Mount Prospect, IL. The Chicago BBB reports the entity goes by the name of Fairway Lending Group and is fraudulently using the location of 1699 Wall Street, Mount Prospect, IL 60056, which is an office building with several suites. They alone have logged 400 inquiries about Fairway since January, 75 of them in February. We currently have 20 complaints on file from consumers who lost anywhere from $900 to over $5,000 each in “collateral payments” by wiring the money via Western Union to different locations in Canada- from Alberta to Ontario, some of them who sent multiple payments. To date, there have been victims from Arizona, New York, Ohio, Indiana, Maryland, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Texas, Massachusetts, Colorado, Missouri, and Pennsylvania.
Michael Coil, president & CEO of the BBB of Northern Indiana, said, “Although this scam has been more prevalent in the Chicago area, the fast-growing number of complaints and the high number of consumer inquiries alarms us since two counties we service borders the Chicago area. Scams that request advance payment of fees are burgeoning and consumers need to be extremely vigilant if they are targeted. In fact, our office has received inquiries from consumers about another advanced fee company in the last several days, but with a different name that consumers have reported to us but cannot understand the “company” the caller is using. Do not under any circumstances provide your bank account information, Social Security number, send a check or wire transfer money to any company that you don’t know. Numerous consumers have been victimized by scams such as these. The only thing you stand to lose is money you cannot afford to lose.”
Fairway Lending Group is using the following phone numbers and website to conduct its operations:
1-866-681-1281 x529- “Randy Gold” (Senior Loan Cons.)
1-866-681-1281 x773- “Terry Singald” (Cust. Serv. Manager)
http://www.fairwaylending.org
Consumers should be aware that the lender’s representatives’ names are most likely false and no such individuals may exist. Individuals across the country have been sent official-looking contracts and told to wire money via Money Gram, after which they would allegedly expect to have their loan funds transferred into their bank accounts. After not receiving their loans, some of the consumers allege that Fairway Lending Group contacted them again stating that before they receive their money the consumers would need to make additional payments for “insurance” and “collateral”.
The BBB reminds consumers that advance fee loans are illegal in the U.S. and Canada and also warns consumers to never do business with lenders who request money prior to disbursing the loan funds. Consumers who have been victimized by Fairway Lending Group should file complaints with the Internet Crime Complaint Center, or IC3, at www.ic3.gov and with Phonebusters at www.phonebusters.com. IC3 is a partnership between the FBI and the National White Collar Crime Center whose mission is to help victims of cyber crime, while Phonebusters is a Canadian anti-fraud call center. And when it doubt, check it out: www.bbb.org