Mark Maupin States: Wallets Get Fat From Risky Business!

Wheeler-Dealer’s Pitches leave some empty Handed. Big Money Is Pocketed In Schemes. Don’t Get Duped. Well-known area Investor Mark Maupin, Jr., creator of Detroit investment homes will address “CONSUMER ALERT- ADVANCE-FEE LOAN SCAMS” to Detroit real estate investors at the “Free Real Estate Seminar Sponsored by National Real Estate Network, LLC at Budget Realty LLC. 17177 N. Laurel Park Dr. suite 265, Livonia, Michigan 48152 on this coming Monday July 24, 2006 from 6:00-8:00 pm. The will address questions new investors have. And free resources in their market. Ralph Marcus (Mark) Maupin, Jr., provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern.

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Wallets Get Fat From Risky Business:

Wheeler-Dealer’s Pitches leave some empty Handed. Big Money Is Pocketed In Schemes. Don’t Get Duped. Well-known area Investor Ralph Marcus (Mark) Maupin, Jr., creator of Detroit investment Homes provides Consumer Alerts to inform the public of unfair, misleading, or deceptive business practices, and to provide information and guidance on other issues of concern.

Well-known area Investor Ralph (Mark) Maupin, Jr. with two other renowned real estate experts will address “CONSUMER ALERT- ADVANCE-FEE LOAN SCAMS" to Detroit real estate investors

CONSUMER ALERT ADVANCE-FEE LOAN SCAMS
Advance-fee loan or credit card scams are often targeted at people with bad credit. The scam may start as an ad in the paper, "Bad credit no problem – loans available by calling 1-###-###-####." The consumer is told, "You are qualified, but you must send a fee to process your application/pay a security deposit/pay for insurance." The victim pays the money, and no loan or credit card is issued.

RECOGNIZING THE SCAM
the ads offer easy access to loans, regardless of credit history. The advance-fee scammer may use a false business name and address, often with toll-free 800, 866 or 877 phone number that is difficult to trace or rings into Canada. Sometimes the scammer will even use a legitimate company's name or physical office address in the ad. Placement of an ad in a recognized media outlet does not guarantee that the company placing the ad is trustworthy.

Consumers calling in response to such ads are taken through a phony application process, sometimes over the phone or through faxed application forms, and later may receive fake loan approval documents. In order to receive the approved loan, applicants are directed to pay money up-front, under the guise of an application fee, a security deposit, for credit insurance, some other collateral payment, or other service fee. Often, the applicant is directed to send the payment via wired money transfer, payable to an individual rather
than a business.

Consumers filing complaints with the Michigan Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division have been directed to wire payments to Canadian addresses. After sending payment, the loan is never received, and refund attempts are futile. Making matters worse, some scammers have used the information collected from advance-fee loan victims to commit identity theft.

PROTECT YOURSELF: TIPS TO AVOID ADVANCE-FEE LOAN SCAMS
don’t pay for the promise of a loan. While legitimate lenders may charge you a small amount to process your application and cover the cost of checking your credit, the fees generally are taken from the amount borrowed. Legitimate offers of credit do not require an up-front payment.

Ignore any ad, or hang up any caller, that guarantees a loan in exchange for an upfront
fee. Legitimate lenders never guarantee that you will receive a loan before you
apply or before they have checked out your credit status or contacted your references, especially if you have bad credit or no credit record. Be wary of anyone who tells you that they can provide loan approval by reviewing information you give over the phone without a credit check or who says you qualify for a loan at a competitive rate regardless of your credit history.

Thoroughly investigate loan offers from unfamiliar companies. Ask for the
company's physical location. Check the company's number in the phone book or from directory assistance, and call it to make sure that you are dealing with the company you think you are. Check the lender out with the Better Business Bureau. Don't wire money or send money orders for a loan. You have little recourse if there's a problem with a wire transaction. Legitimate lenders don't pressure you to wire funds. Refuse to do business with anyone who encourages you to send money or act
immediately.

Don't make payment to an individual for a loan. No legitimate lending institution would make such a request. Steer clear of advance fee offers that promise a credit card with a pre-approved limit and low interest rates for a fee. To pay the fee, you will be asked to give your bank account information and authorize an electronic draft to pay the fee. In most cases, the credit card never materializes, and the consumer's bank account is quickly drained.

FILE A COMPLAINT
Consumers who fall victim to an advance payment loan or credit card scam should contact the media source that advertised the bogus offer. Responsible advertisers will terminate these ads and contact law enforcement. Since most advance-fee loan scams involve a victim in one state and a scam artist in another, report the problem to the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at: Consumer Protection Division Toll Free: 877-765-8388 www.michigan.gov/ag  (online complaint form)

For Information:
Mark Maupin 248-939=6232

www.megaeveningevnt.com