Complaint Review: Communal Credit Union

I applied for a loan online to Communal Credit Union in Dearborn, MI and was pleased when I was told I was"pre-approved" to get a $10,000 loan (although more than I needed) at 8.5% interest. A man named Michael Walker asked me to fax over I.D. and recent pay stubs, which I did that day. After no response, I called Mr. Walker and he informed me that I would need to give the company a 10% ($1,000) security deposit on the loan. Having been through this certain scheme before, I asked him to take the "security deposit" from the loan proceeds--he informed me that the company did not do that. After hesitating, he then told me he could try to get the deposit cost lowered (been there, done that, too). I told him I would contact him, but in the mean time, I did a Google search of Communal Credit Union and it was revealed that it is NOT a credit union, the physical address in Dearborn, MI is an empty store and the so-called testimonials from satisfied customers were as fake as the business. The Michigan financial institution watchdog, through the Attorney General there has a cease-and-desist order out on the company because they were posing as a credit union. I called the AG's and reported my experience...they are keeping a list of persons who have been in contact with the fake credit union, but they also encouraged me to file a complaint with my state AG's consumer board as well, which I did immediately.
DO NOT do business with Communal Credit Union. They are advanced-fee loan rip-off artists. I am certain, had I not investigated this business further, I would be in poor financial straits, with no loan and about $1,000 poorer because of their scam.

Cheryl
NorthVernon, Indiana
U.S.A.