Cash Advance Group – Possible Loan Collection Scam

Also Doing Business As:

• Cash Advance
• US Cash Advance
• Cash Advance Inc
• and other entities using variations of the name “Cash Advance”

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received complaints from Washington consumers of what appear to be loan collection scams. Numerous consumers reported they were contacted by entities claiming to collect debts owed to companies with “Cash Advance” in their names. The collection attempts often involve threats of lawsuits, asset seizure, and arrest. The consumers targeted did not actually owe the debt being collected. At least some of the consumers were targeted after they applied for loans from unlicensed online lenders.

Most recently, a consumer reported being contacted through email by an individual referring to himself as Victor Allen from Cash Advance USA. The email demanded payment for a cash advance the consumer reported never occurred. The consumer reported being provided with an alleged account payoff amount and being threatened with legal action if payment was not received.

Another consumer reported that an individual claiming to be Morris Anderson, representing Anderson Loan Assistance, contacted the consumer attempting to collect a debt allegedly owed to Cash Advance USA. The individual contacted the consumer through email and phone calls, and allegedly threatened legal action for a loan the consumer states was not received. The consumer reported being provided with an alleged account number and payoff amount.

Several other consumers reported receiving threatening emails attempting to collect debts allegedly owed to a company owned by Cash Advance, Inc. The emails list numerous payday lenders and claim these lenders are owned by Cash Advance, Inc. Some of these e-mails were sent by people calling themselves Jason Marriott and David Jones.

One consumer reported receiving an email from a man calling himself William C. Jones, who claimed to work at a Federal Trade Commission office. He allegedly threatened to disclose the debt to the consumer’s employer, garnish wages, and file a lawsuit against the consumer. Another consumer reported receiving a similar e-mail from a person calling himself Neal Johnson. The consumer reported that what appear to be fake U.S. District Court arrest warrants were attached to these e-mails.

Several consumers also reported receiving phone calls from entities attempting to collect debts owed to Cash Advance, Cash Advance Group, and US Cash Advance. Some of the collection calls came from people who called themselves Brian Wilson, John Murphy, Jim Spencer, and Andrew e from a person claiming to work for Peterson Law Group and Debt Collection USA.

In another case, the consumer reported that the caller threatened to seize the consumer’s bank account and serve the consumer with legal papers at his workplace unless he paid the debt. Another consumer reported being threatened with arrest. In one case, a consumer reported the debt collector threatened that he could have an arrest warrant issued if the consumer did not immediately pay him with a credit card. In other cases, consumers report the debt collector demanded payment using a pre-paid card.

Cash Advance Group – Possible Loan Collection Scam

Another consumer reported receiving an email explaining a “Final Legal Notice” on behalf of a parent company of Cash Advance, Inc. The email was from a man calling himself Robert Jones and disclosed a fictitious case number and payment amount. He allegedly online payday loans for Tennessee threatened legal proceedings and told the consumer that attorney fees would accompany the amount owed if he did not hear back from the consumer.

In another complaint, a consumer reported receiving threatening emails from entities claiming to be “Associated Recover System, Division of National Debt Settlement” and “Account Wing.” The emails allegedly threatened legal action if the consumer did not pay on an alleged loan with Cash Advance, Inc.