Delta Finance Loans.
The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) and the
Identity Theft Resource Center (ITRC) warn that consumers are receiving
unsolicited phone calls from an entity calling itself Delta Finance Inc.
offering loans if the targeted consumer pays an advance fee. Consumers who paid
the fee did not receive the loan as promised.
The scammers claim that they can provide loans no matter the
credit history of the consumer and claim that they have made loans in amounts
in the tens of thousands for individuals and businesses.
ITRC believes that the scammers are purchasing information of
their targets from short term lenders.
The best defense from financial scammers, such as Delta
Finance Loans, is to hang up when they call you. DFI recommends that if you
need a loan, that you deal only with property licensed businesses. You can
verify a license at www.dfi.wa.gov.
Department of Financial Institutions:
ITRC:
Natural Disaster
Scams. The Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has
issued a warning to the public about scammers taking advantage of the wildfires
in eastern Washington. While the focus of its alert is the wildfires, this may
be a good time to emphasize them with the recent storm that we have had in
Puget Sound.
DNR reports that individuals posing as contractors have been
offering help with timber harvest salvage, woodlot restoration, debris removal
and other cleanup activities. It points out that some of these individuals may
not be legitimate.
Some scammers may offer to clear debris. They often ask for
money up front and then disappear or pick up your debris then dump it on a
neighbor’s property, along a roadside or on government land. If the debris is
tracked to your property, then you are responsible for any costs and penalties
of clean up.
Apparently, there is no requirement for a consulting forester
to be licensed by the state. DNR recommends that if you are thinking about
using someone who claims to be a forester that you determine if they are
legitimate. DNR recommends that you check them out with the Association of
Consulting Foresters (https://www.acf-foresters.org/)
and/ or with the Society of American Foresters (http://www.safnet.org/).
Both of these professional organizations have codes of ethics that focus on
professionalism and the landowner’s best interest.
Charity scammers often call asking for donations to help
people caught up in natural disasters taking advantage of people’s natural
inclination to help others. But the scammers keep the money and none of it goes
toward the stated purpose. Some ways you can steer clear of the scams include:
·
Do not respond to unsolicited email.
·
Be skeptical of individuals asking for donations
via email or social networking sites.
·
Beware of organizations with copycat names
similar to but not exactly the same as reputable charities, and organizations
that use a .com web address instead of .org.
·
Research a charity independently on the Internet
rather than click on an unsolicited link.
·
Avoid cash donations if possible. Pay by debit
or credit card or write a check directly to the charity. Do not make checks
payable to individuals.
·
Be wary of anyone who seems too aggressive in
asking for a donation or asks for cash, a wire transfer or check addressed to
an individual rather than an organization.
You can also research charities on the Washington Secretary
of State’s Information for Donor’s web page (https://www.sos.wa.gov/charities/donors.aspx),
on the www.BBB.org or www.Give.org.
DNR:
The only thing you could to to them is just hung up, or even better if you just don't answer any call comes from unknown number. If you have accidentally pick up the phone and talk to them, then it's better if you just don't give out any information or send any money to the caller. Try to look up the number on sites like http://whycall.me or simply Google it before you decide to do anything with them. Just DON'T trust anyone talk to you over the phone.
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