Lion Loans Scam

[VagabondMD]

Earlier this week, I received a phone call from a company called Lion Loans. They want to talk to me about my loan, and I told them that I did not have a loan with them. The woman on the phone, who seemed unpolished and unprofessional, maybe reading from a script, then told me that they took fraud very seriously and asked me for the last four of my social security number. I told her to pound sand and hung up.

Today, I received a call from the "fraud department", an 888 number which I did not pick up in real time. The person left a message, very professional and polished, wanting to discuss my loan account. My impression was that this was a legit agency that was trying to snuff out a fraudulent attempt to use my name to obtain a loan. I returned the call and was sent to general customer service, where they again, asked for my social security number. I now freely offered my social security number because she was so nice and the other guy was so polished...

Just kidding. I told her to pound sand, and if there was a fraud specialist, I would be happy to talk to him/her. She put me on hold, and I started to google Lion Loans. They have a pretty spiffy website, and it looked legit. Additional digging suggests that it could be a complete scam. I hung up on them again.

At this point, I understand that I am the target of a scam as it appears possible that Lion Loans is not a legitimate company, and they are trying to steal my id. Alternatively, someone may have been trying to use my id to make a loan, which would be difficult because I have frozen my credit since the Anthem breach.

Be careful out there!

[DMFA]

Have you ruled out attempted identity theft in a fraudulent attempt to get a loan with your info, or someone spoofing Lion Loans/MoneyLion to try to get it?

Their website does look very legit like you said, save for "simply have your social security number and bank account information on hand."  I'm not familiar with TrustPilot and I know that reviews can be spoofed, could even throw in a couple 1-stars in order to appear more legit, but they do a very good job of seeming like a legitimate, albeit rather predatory, institution.

[G]

Vagabond MD wrote:

Earlier this week, I received a phone call from a company called Lion Loans. They want to talk to me about my loan, and I told them that I did not have a loan with them. The woman on the phone, who seemed unpolished and unprofessional, maybe reading from a script, then told me that they took fraud very seriously and asked me for the last four of my social security number. I told her to pound sand and hung up.

Today, I received a call from the “fraud department”, an 888 number which I did not pick up in real time. The person left a message, very professional and polished, wanting to discuss my loan account. My impression was that this was a legit agency that was trying to snuff out a fraudulent attempt to use my name to obtain a loan. I returned the call and was sent to general customer service, where they again, asked for my social security number. I now freely offered my social security number because she was so nice and the other guy was so polished…

Just kidding. I told her to pound sand, and if there was a fraud specialist, I would be happy to talk to him/her. She put me on hold, and I started to google Lion Loans. They have a pretty spiffy website, and it looked legit. Additional digging suggests that it is likely a complete scam. I hung up on them again.

At this point, I understand that I am the target of a scam as it appears likely that Lion Loans is not a legitimate company, and they are trying to steal my id. Alternatively, someone may have been trying to use my id to make a loan, which would be difficult because I have frozen my credit since the Anthem breach.

Be careful out there!

Click to expand...

Can you talk a little about freezing your credit?  I just did a quick google search, but I'd like to hear more.

[Zaphod]

Lyin Loans?

[jfoxcpacfp]

Vagabond MD wrote:

I now freely offered my social security number because she was so nice and the other guy was so polished…

Click to expand...

<>

[VagabondMD]

The polished "fraud specialist " dude tried to call me a couple more times. I have been busy and not been available. He did mention that he could send me an affadavit of some sort, but I had to take another call and hung up on him.

The persistence with which he is pursuing me makes me think that they could be legit (and the ones being scammed), but how am I to know? And what is my responsibility to cooperate with their internal investigation? And why do I have to talk to him when he decides to call, not when it is convenient for me?

Obviously, they have my name and phone number, but I do not intend to give them any more information. If they think they have my SS#, they can read it back to me.

[VagabondMD]

Regarding credit freezes, mine is through Transunion. If anyone does a hard pull of the Big 3, they will learn that Transunion will not release my information. This is a hard stop for any legitimate lender or credit agency.

When I recently replied for the Chase Sapphire card, for example, I had to contact Transunion and manually unfreeze the account for 24 hours, so Chase could get their data and process my application. It cost $5, IIRC.

I highly recommend that everyone freezes their credit. There really is no downside.

[jfoxcpacfp]

Vagabond MD wrote:

The persistence with which he is pursuing me makes me think that they could be legit (and the ones being scammed), but how am I to know? And what is my responsibility to cooperate with their internal investigation? And why do I have to talk to him when he decides to call, not when it is convenient for me?

Click to expand...

NOBODY LEGIT ASKS A STRANGER FOR THEIR SSN OVER THE PHONE. Last 4 digits to verify your identity, maybe, that's it.

[Zaphod]

jfoxcpacfp wrote:

Vagabond MD wrote:

The persistence with which he is pursuing me makes me think that they could be legit (and the ones being scammed), but how am I to know? And what is my responsibility to cooperate with their internal investigation? And why do I have to talk to him when he decides to call, not when it is convenient for me? 

Click to expand…

NOBODY LEGIT ASKS A STRANGER FOR THEIR SSN OVER THE PHONE. Last 4 digits to verify your identity, maybe, that’s it.

Click to expand...

One time the "irs" asked me just to confirm I was the person who the lawsuit said owed all the money. I told them if they were the IRS they should know it, etc...they hung up and never called back. Heard a crazy story about someone who took the fraud to the end, they told him to go to Walgreens and load itunes gift cards and read the numbers to them. Wild the schemes out there, even crazier is that they work. That IRS one was netting 150k/day I believe.

[notadoc]

G wrote:

Vagabond MD wrote:

Earlier this week, I received a phone call from a company called Lion Loans. They want to talk to me about my loan, and I told them that I did not have a loan with them. The woman on the phone, who seemed unpolished and unprofessional, maybe reading from a script, then told me that they took fraud very seriously and asked me for the last four of my social security number. I told her to pound sand and hung up.

Today, I received a call from the “fraud department”, an 888 number which I did not pick up in real time. The person left a message, very professional and polished, wanting to discuss my loan account. My impression was that this was a legit agency that was trying to snuff out a fraudulent attempt to use my name to obtain a loan. I returned the call and was sent to general customer service, where they again, asked for my social security number. I now freely offered my social security number because she was so nice and the other guy was so polished…

Just kidding. I told her to pound sand, and if there was a fraud specialist, I would be happy to talk to him/her. She put me on hold, and I started to google Lion Loans. They have a pretty spiffy website, and it looked legit. Additional digging suggests that it is likely a complete scam. I hung up on them again.

At this point, I understand that I am the target of a scam as it appears likely that Lion Loans is not a legitimate company, and they are trying to steal my id. Alternatively, someone may have been trying to use my id to make a loan, which would be difficult because I have frozen my credit since the Anthem breach.

Be careful out there!

Click to expand…

Can you talk a little about freezing your credit?  I just did a quick google search, but I’d like to hear more.

Click to expand...

Clark Howard on credit freeze.  Has websites, numbers and addresses for all three companies.

http://clark.com/personal-finance-credit/credit-freeze-and-thaw-guide/

[Dreamgiver]

If you give me your SSN and birthday I can look into this right now for you for free  

 

 

[janettebournes]

My husband and I must be much more anti-social / paranoid than everyone else.

We don't even bother answering our phones anymore unless we know who is calling.

Everyone else gets routed to voice mail.

If we don't like what you have to say, # is blocked and we don't expect to hear from you again.

If you don't leave a message, # is blocked and we don't expect to hear from you again.

1 strike policy applies to all

[VagabondMD]

Further internet sleuthing and a review of my credit reports revealed that an inquiry allegedly initiated by me was made on my Experian credit report by a Utah-based company that may be affiliated with Lion Loans. Of course, I made no such inquiry as I have no need for payday loans and such. Lion Loans may have a spotty internet reputation, but they may have been the ones scammed in this scenario. I have a feeling that I have not heard the last from them.

[Zaphod]

janettebournes wrote:

My husband and I must be much more anti-social / paranoid than everyone else.

We don’t even bother answering our phones anymore unless we know who is calling.

Everyone else gets routed to voice mail.

If we don’t like what you have to say, # is blocked and we don’t expect to hear from you again.

If you don’t leave a message, # is blocked and we don’t expect to hear from you again.

1 strike policy applies to all

Click to expand...

I have a similar policy. I answer once, if a marketer I simply hang up without saying anything and block the number. Same for marketers that leave a vm.

[jfoxcpacfp]

Zaphod wrote:

janettebournes wrote:

My husband and I must be much more anti-social / paranoid than everyone else.

We don’t even bother answering our phones anymore unless we know who is calling.

Everyone else gets routed to voice mail.

If we don’t like what you have to say, # is blocked and we don’t expect to hear from you again.

If you don’t leave a message, # is blocked and we don’t expect to hear from you again.

1 strike policy applies to all

Click to expand…

I have a similar policy. I answer once, if a marketer I simply hang up without saying anything and block the number. Same for marketers that leave a vm.

Click to expand...

I hate being interrupted by unnecessary phone calls. My v.m. states that if i don't answer, it's because I don't recognize your number so leave a msg and I'll get right back to you. Seems to work. Those who don't leave a msg get blocked. Is there a reason doctors cannot do the same?