Flynrider
Phoenix,#2Consumer Comment
Wed, February 22, 2012
If this were an actual business it might help. Unfortunately, this is a team of scammers working from outside the country using phony names. By next week they'll likely be operating with a different company name and a new set of phone numbers.
Anonymous37
Tampa,#3Consumer Comment
Wed, February 22, 2012
Complaint for:
First Farmers Financial Corporation
14522 S Outer Forty Rd
St Louis, Missouri 63017
Ph: 1-888-792-5551 x435
Fax: 1-888-629-0726
Email: [email protected]
www.firstfarmersfinancial.com
On February 6, 2012, I filled out an application that was faxed from Fran McFarland. She said that in order to get my personal loan of $7000.00 approved, I would have to pay upfront a collateral payment of 3 months which consists of $425.79. I told her, "wow! that's a lot and that doesn't really make sense. I am applying for a loan and I already have to start repaying it back." She said "Once you pay $425.79, you will receive your loan of $7000.00 within two hours." So I went to Publix and filled out a Moneygram. It was around 6pm. I waited for 2 hours...she stayed on the phone with me here and there. At 8pm, nothing, no money in my bank acct nor did she pick up my phone calls. The next day, I phone called her from 9am through 2pm. Finally at 2pm, I said..."It is really hard to reach you. What's going on with my loan?" She said, "Due to the lender, they need you to pay an additional $800.00." I told her that I didn't have that kind of money. She advised, "What about a friend? Borrow from a bank? Apply for a payday loan?" I told her, "No I can't. There is no one and now I want my refund since I won't get approved." She said that she felt horrible and told me she would process my refund immediately. I was a bit irate at her when I got "denied". She told me not to blame it on her. I told her you literally ripped me off $435.79 and now you are asking for an additional $800.00. How can I be happy? Last week, on February 14, 2012, Fran told me that next week I would receive my refund check. So far nothing yet...
I highly advise you to file a complaint on https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/FTC_Wizard.aspx?Lang=en or call them at 1-877-382-4357. I just filed mine. I think they will also contact BBB.
Robert
Irvine,#4Consumer Comment
Fri, February 17, 2012
As much as they are talking to you now, eventually reality is going to hit you in the face like a lead brick...Sorry. As was described earlier you fell for the Advanced Loan Fee scam and eventually these people will stop communicating with you, and you will not get your money back.
If you search for the address you provided you will find that it is the same address of a Local Newspaper. This is actually another very common tactic of these people in using addresses that either don't exist(such as vacant lots) or a business that has nothing to do with this scam.
Another common tactic is to get a domain to match their company, and most of the time if you search you will find that the domain was created recently. This is no exception as it was only created on 1/16/2012.
I would bet that these people only paid for their services for only about a month, so if they started all of this on January 16th, I would imagine that within the next few days you will start seeing things being disconnected.
spurden
fredricton,#5Author of original report
Fri, February 17, 2012
I have been speaking to carrie and she has told me it is being sent..
I have receipts to everything i have and copies, I'm stessing now hoping its not a scam.They still have the same number an it still works,it's just this situation has really affected alot of things where as i put myself in the hole all this money.
Flynrider
Phoenix,#6Consumer Comment
Thu, February 16, 2012
What the OP is describing is the Advance Fee Loan Scam. I think the OP set some kind of record for the number of successive times they were able to scam him. Most people figure it out after the first time they ask for more money.
There is no loan company. This is just a small group of scammers that pretended to be lenders. Most of them use a made up company name, or they steal a real company name. The object of the scam is to get the victim to send untraceable cash transfers. This is done by insisting on the use of Western Union, Moneygram or GreenDot services. Real companies do not use anonymous cash transfers. Another obvious red flag is that it would be illegal for a lender to charge you advance payments for a loan.
Communications are most often via email from public access sites and throwaway cell phones. After scamming for awhile, they'll change all of the names, toss the old cell phones and start up again using a new fake company name.
The FTC has a webpage about this scam here :
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel16.shtm
illumiNOT
Montreal,#7Consumer Comment
Thu, February 16, 2012
Whas goin on with your case?