Listing of Unlicensed Entities
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I | J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R | S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
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- What is this list?
- Who should check this list?
- How can you verify the legal status of a lender or loan-making entity?
- What if you spot a familiar or respected business name on this list?
A |
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Absolute Financial Helpers | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont Newspaper
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American Cash Alliance, LLC d/b/a Second Wallet | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Ameriloan | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 4, 2007 |
Arrowhead Funding, Inc. | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 4, 2007 |
Arrowhead Investments, Inc. | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted April 4, 2007 |
Atlas Financial Associates | Advance fee loan scam. Victim receives a check and is instructed to send a portion of the money back to an individual in Canada to secure the loan. Check is counterfeit or fraudulent. Names being used Diane Buckner & Phillip Morgan. Posted: February 22, 2006 |
B |
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Best Rate Capital Funding Contact: JD & Associates Law Firm, David Ivon and David O’Brien | Advance fee loan scam. Applicant requested to send first three monthly payments in advance to Nova Scotia before loan proceeds are distributed. Posted: April 27, 2006 |
BIG Limited | Engaged in payday lending over the internet Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Bradshaw Affiliates | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper Posted: July 21, 2005 |
Bowerland Financial Lending Group Corporation Contact: Bruno Minyoni, Ext. 319 | Advance fee loan scam. Not located at street address. Applicant required to pay the first five monthly payments upfront. |
Broadway Lending Group | Advance fee loan scam Reported by Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions. Posted: May 7, 2008 |
C |
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Cash ASAP (a/k/a Cottonwood Financial Ltd) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
CashCall, Inc. | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Cashlink USA | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 4, 2007 |
Centurion Financial | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont Newspaper. Posted: July 7, 2005 |
Cottonwood Financial Ltd (a/k/a Cash ASAP) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted April 8, 2008 |
Crombie Lending Associates of America
| Advance fee loan scam. Invalid address. Posted: May 16, 2008 |
D |
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Depository Financial Services | Not an authorized federally (Canadian) regulated financial institution and may be connected with advance fee or “Nigerian letter” scams. Posted: November 28, 2005 |
Direct Lending | Type of solicitation/activity: Advance fee loan scam. Unlicensed entity. Special Notes: VT resident required to send money to purchase insurance in advance of receiving loan. Posted: November 18, 2009 |
Diverse Financial Group | Website claims licensed in Vermont, however license number belongs to another legitimate entity. Posted: January 24, 2005 |
Durkens Financial Group | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: November 28, 2005 |
E |
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EME Marketing (a/k/a E-Payday) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Eastbrook Lending Group Contact: William Richmond, Ext 334 | Advance fee loan scam. Not a valid address Posted: August 18, 2009 |
Econo Marketing Contact: Gary Marquez | Possible advance fee loan scam. Not a valid street address in Vermont. Telephone number is based in South Pickering, Ontario and the registered carrier was Bell Canada, but has since been transferred to a new service provider. The request for placement of an ad is similar to requests from “Target Marketing” and “Washington Financial” that are also suspected Canadian scams. Posted: May 23, 2006 |
E-Payday (a/k/a EME Marketing) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Expert Financial Services Fax (866) 273-6609 | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Website claims licensed in Vermont, however license number belongs to another legitimate entity. Posted: April 6, 2006 |
F |
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F.T.A. | Allegedly non-profit organization. Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. |
FannyMayLoans | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: July 7, 2005 |
Financial Advisors | Advance fee loan scam. Classified ad in Vermont newspaper. Website claims licensed in Vermont, however license number belongs to another legitimate entity. Required consumer to wire money for insurance to Canadian address. Posted: January 24, 2005 |
First Allied Funding Contact: Jason Hart | Offer small business loans at 30% interest rate secured by credit card receivables. Invalid address, alleges located on corner of 15th Avenue, however 15th Avenue does not intersect with 49th Street. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
G |
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Guardian Financial | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: May 7, 2008 |
Geneva-Roth Ventures | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
GetCashMan, Inc. (866) 735-6863 | Engaged in payday lending over the internet.
Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Gruber Communications Group | Attempted placement of an advertisement for loans containing just a telephone number (888) 869-9030, and no indication of the name or address of the lender. Posted: June 25, 2008 |
H |
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I |
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InnerCircle Contacts: Grace Walker, Lynn Wood, Shawn Mandel, Shayne Urchler | Advance fee loan scam. Not a valid street address. Required consumer to send money to purchase insurance. Posted: February 5, 2007 |
Instant Cash | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
J |
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K |
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L |
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L & M Financial Ltd. (d/b/a PayDay2Go) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet.
Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Levitate Finance Group | Advance fee loan scam. Not a valid address. Claims to be regulated bank in the State of Michigan. Required consumer to send money to Jamaica. Posted: June 26, 2007 |
Lexar Consulting Contact: Connie Clarke | Advance fee loan scam. Classified ad in Pennsylvania newspaper. Required consumer to send money for insurance to Brenda Smith, 4985 Empress Street, Windsor, Ontario, Canada, N8T 1B3. Posted: January 24, 2005 |
Liberty Capital Lending | Advance fee loan scam. Not a valid address. Posted: February 5, 2007 |
Liberty Savings Bank | Attempted placement of classified ad in Vermont newspaper. Posted: January 24, 2005 |
M |
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MTE Financial Services (d/b/a 500 Fast Cash) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Maurier Financial Services (services spelled without a “c” in solicitation) (978) 636-3234 or (888) 588-9242 | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper.
Posted: February 28, 2007 |
Mesa Financial, L.C. | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 4, 2007 |
N |
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National Lending Group | Advance fee loan scam. There is no company by this name at this address. Web address registered in Canada. Posted: November 18, 2009 |
National Opportunities Unlimited LLC | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
North Shore Credit Union | Advance fee loan scam. Corporate identity theft. Attempted placement of classified ad in Vermont newspaper. Produced a fraudulent Business Registration License No. 895774321. Requests contain logo of legitimate North Shore Credit Union located in North Vancouver, BC. Posted: January 24, 2005 |
Norwest Financial Inc. Contact: Norman M. Walker | Advance fee loan scam. Corporate identity theft. Consumer applied for a loan online. Received a loan offer by telephone, and instructed to wire money as collateral to Derek Wiggins. Posted: May 1, 2007 |
O |
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Oakridge Lending Services | Advance fee loan scam. Unlicensed entity. Applicant required to make first five monthly payments as a security payment before loan proceeds are distributed. Posted: November 30, 2009 |
Oakwood Financial Lending | Advance fee loan scam. Posted: April 25, 2008 |
One Click Cash | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
P |
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Paycheck Today | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
(d/b/a) PayDay2Go (L & M Financial Ltd.) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet.
Posted: April 8, 2008 |
PayDay Select of Delaware, LLC | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Payday Services | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: October 23, 2008 |
Precision Group | Advance fee loan scam. Applicant required to send 10% of loan amount in advance. Posted: June 19, 2008 |
Preston Financial Group Contact: Gregory Watson and John T. Codwell | Advance fee loan scam. Applicant required to pay 6 monthly payments in advance as security, called “collateral payments” Posted: June 19, 2008 |
Q |
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R |
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Regal Investment Group Contact: Henry Walter- Fax (901) 328-1413 | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. (Ads published by Regal Investment Group (RIG) have contained the mailing address of a different, legitimate entity. It is not the actual address of RIG) |
RMG-Remarkable Marketing Group | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: July 22, 2005 |
Rite-Way Financial Service Contact: Benjamin Dapp | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: February 5, 2007 |
S |
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(d/b/a) Second Wallet (American Cash Alliance, LLC) | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Senteric Mutual Inc./Senteric Mutual Services | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: October 3, 2005 |
Sherbourne Financial Lending Group | Advance fee loan scam. Reported by the Maryland Division of Financial Regulation Posted: May 7, 2008 |
T |
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Trafalger Group | Advance fee loan scam. Website claims licensed in Vermont, however license number belongs to another legitimate entity. Consumer instructed to wire money to St. Louis, MO. Funds were subsequently forwarded to Canada. Posted: January 27, 2005 |
Transbanc Capital Corporation | Not an authorized federally (Canadian) regulated financial institution and may be connected with advance fee or “Nigerian letter” scams. Posted: November 28, 2005 |
Tridot Financial Contact: Tina Coleman or Steven Moore | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: July 23, 2007 |
Trilium Financial Group | Advance fee loan scam. (This group spells Trilium with on “L”. A similar named legitimate business uses two “L’s”). Consumers receiving unsolicited telephone calls. Require consumer to send money. Posted: April 1, 2008 |
U |
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UnitedCashLoans | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: July 21, 2005 |
V |
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Vonage Financial | Advance fee loan scam. Website advertises mortgage loans, debt consolidation, and home improvement loans. Address is not a valid address. Consumer instructed to wire money to Canada to obtain a loan. Posted: March 28, 2006 |
W |
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Wellsprings Financial Group (203) 616-2404 or (866) 443-2012 | Attempted placement of an ad in a Vermont newspaper.
Posted: May 24, 2006 |
Wendover Financial | Attempted placement of classified ad in a Vermont newspaper. Posted: September 19, 2005 |
Westbrooke Financial600 Blair Park Road, Suite 1 | Advance fee loan scam. Not located at street address. Posted: September 5, 2008 |
Western Financial | Advance fee loan scam. Not a valid street address. Victims instructed to provide additional collateral, or purchase insurance by wiring money to Canada. Posted: April 4, 2007 |
Whistler Holdings, LLC | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
X |
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Xpress Cash | Engaged in payday lending over the internet. Posted: April 8, 2008 |
Y |
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Yorkmills Financial Group (877) 256-0675 Contact: Gary M. Ward | Advance fee loan scam. Victims required to make first 5 months payments in advance. Posted: October 23, 2008 |
Z |
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The Vermont Banking Division regularly receives word of, or spots existing advertising for so-called "advance fee loan" scams and other types of suspicious dealings. The purpose of this registry is to make such information available to the public as rapidly as we receive it, as an early warning system. Entities appear on this list for any of the following reasons: they are not licensed with the state to do business here; they have been reported to us as suspicious or illegitimate by other regulators; or they are using tactics that follow patterns often associated with fraudulent activities.
Consumers should check the list to avoid doing business with suspicious entities. Publishers of classified or broadcast advertising should check to block ads submitted by suspicious entities or clear them as legitimate.
If you have questions about any entity conducting business of this type in Vermont, you can check with the Vermont Banking Division. You can also file a complaint. Call 802- 828-3307 or e-mail: BISHCA-BnkConsumer@state.vt.us [If e-mailing, for security reasons, we ask that you please specify the nature of your inquiry in the subject line. That way we can more readily distinguish it from spam, and ensure you receive a reply.]
Bear in mind that it's a common tactic for illegitimate operators to appropriate the name, in whole or part, of a known legitimate business. This is a type of identity theft used to gain a consumer's confidence. Be sure to make a distinction between legitimate businesses in our Vermont communities and the unauthorized use of their names. If you have any doubts, check with the Vermont Banking Division using the contact information provided.