What to do if you’ve been scammed
Sometimes it can be hard to tell a scam from the real thing. If you think you’ve been scammed, there are steps you can take to protect your personal information and your money from being stolen.
- Contact the police. Your police should have a non-emergency number you can call when you know you’ve been scammed. File a police report to legitimize the situation. Your bank and credit bureaus will want to see that you’ve taken this action, so it’s an important first step.
- Contact your bank. Since even legit lenders will ask for your bank account information, you may have given this to a scammer. Even if they haven’t stolen anything from your account yet, putting your bank on alert will help them track your account for any unusual activity.
- Contact the Social Security Administration (SSA). If you’ve given out your Social Security number to a scam artist, you’ll need to contact the SSA as soon as possible to prevent identity theft.
- Contact the top three credit bureaus. They can put a freeze on your credit report in case of any suspicious queries pop up. This will help prevent future damage from scammers trying to use your credit to buy expensive items.
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). This can help the FTC and other agencies track fraudulent behavior and prevent other scams in the future. Visit its complaints page online to get started.
- File a complaint with your State Attorney General. Your State Attorney General will note the scam and attempt to make a case against the perpetrators. If you’ve been scammed, reporting it could help find who did it and have them answer to the law.
These steps might not be able to get you your money back, but they will make a dent in the ability for scam artists to function in the future while helping you protect your identity. The best way to prevent a scam is to know what one looks like, so familiarize yourself with this page in order to know what to avoid in the future.
Do consumer needs pay day loan really exist i really dnt think they do
Hi Valerie,
Thanks for getting in touch!
There are a several reasons why consumers need payday loans however, it’s usually for covering immediate cash needs like paying bills, until you get your next paycheck.
Payday loans come with high rates and fees though, which can trap consumers in a cycle of debt so alternative loan options should be considered before opting for a short-term loan.
Hope this helps!
Best,
Nikki
Is Speedy Cash licensed to do business in the state of VA?
Hello Gloria,
Thank you for your comment.
Upon checking, yes, Speedy cash is licensed to operate in VA.
Should you wish to have real-time answers to your questions, try our chatbox on the lower right corner of our page.
Regards,
Jhezelyn
I have taken an internet payday loan out on the past. I have repaid most of them off according to the contract and some I had to settle the lender, but paid eventually. My family, my work and myself all receive harassing phone calls from a 3rd party. I’m sure my information has been sold. It’s very embarrassing, the cycle seems to be never ending. How do I stop this?
Hi Michele,
Thanks for getting in touch with finder.
I’m sorry to hear about your situation, Michele.
If you have already paid all your outstanding debt, then there’s no reason for the lender to continue bothering you. Usually, if a borrower isn’t able to pay, they are endorsed to a collection agency which might explain why you are getting a phone call from a 3rd party. Here’s what could happen if you don’t pay back your payday loan.
The best way for you to stop people from harassing you is to pay off your balance. Now, you mentioned you already paid them. In this case, you need to directly get in touch with your lender and inform them that you already paid your dues. They should be able to fix the problem.
Each state and city has its own laws regarding payday loans. If you’re being harassed by a collection agency, your most important step is to become informed about your rights and obligations under the law, including what agencies can and can’t do when trying to collect the debt.
When dealing with a collection agency, know that they’re trying to scare you into paying whatever you can. Instead, stand firm when dealing with these aggressive collectors.
I hope this helps. Should you have further questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out again.
Have a wonderful day!
Cheers,
Joshua
I was excepted for a loan this loan company put x amount of dollars in my account then wanted me to get some cards with that money to get my loan I refused to do it this amount is still in my account what do i do with it?
Hi Margurette,
Thank you for your inquiry.
If the check or the lender seems suspicious to you, you can contact your bank and ask for their assistance in returning the money to the depositor’s account.
You can also ask your bank for information about the sender account to help you investigate further if the account is genuine and to figure out who’s trying to scam you. Then, consult with an attorney about your options for recourse.
Should you consider getting a loan in the future, make sure you apply for a short-term loan from trusted companies.
I hope this helps.
Best,
Maria