Southern United Financial They asked me to send $885 dollars to secure a loan then told me I had to send $885 again. jacksonville, Florida

  As Robert explained, this is called the advance fee loan scam.   It is nothing more than a group of scammers (usually in Canada) that pretend to be a loan company.  They often steal a legitimate company name, so that people like yourself, who bother to research will think they are legit.  The company you found that belongs to the BBB has no connection with the Internet scammers you have been dealing with.  These scammers have throwaway cell phones tied to their 800 numbers.  Their websites are copies of sites used in previous scams, they just change the company name and reuse it.   In a few weeks, the phone numbers will go dead, the website will go down, and they'll start all over with different names and phones.  This scam shows up on this site a at least a hundred times per year.  So far, no one we know of has ever received their money back, or even been able to identify who got their money.

  If you made it to the FTC site, hopefully you found this page "

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/telemarketing/tel16.shtm

  One of the tipoffs that tell you that these are scammers, and not a real company, is the upfront money for "insurance" on the loan.  Legitimate lenders don't do that because it would be illegal.  Another is the use of Western Union transfers.  This is the way that 99% of scammers get their money, because they know it's untraceable.  Legitimate businesses do not require the use of W.U. transfers.  Unlike scammers, they have real bank accounts and have no reason to hide.  

  Bottom line, you sent untraceable cash to people that you don't know.  It's very unlikely that you'll see it again.

 

I would just like to comment on your post. First, I am sorry that you experienced this. Easier said than done, but don't continue to beat yourself up over this. There are alot of people out here being scammed out of their money because they just want to get ahead by paying off debt.



I was recently a victim of an advanced fee loan scam. I was taken by Mitchell and Rose Financial. They also called me and said that I was approved for a 5,000 loan just as you. And just like you they sent me official looking documents, and I wired them $925 which I had to borrow with the promise that my loan will be in my acct the next day. Well the next day came and I had no money. Frantically, I started to call them only to get an answering machine, no replies to my emails. I then got a call around 6pm that night to hear that they needed an additional $925. The man became even more rude as I asked how could this happen.



After 20 mins the man became even more annoyed with me, especially when I said that they scammed me. Then he brought up the clause in the paperwork about reassessment. I just asked for  a refund. I was told that I would have to wait until July 1 (their new billing cycle) to receive a refund. I asked why should I believe that they will give me a refund and I was told that it was in the same paragraph as the section on reassessment. Well July 1 came and went and no refund. But there was a $30 unauthorized charge I knew nothing about. When I called to inquire, this was for insurance in case I couldn't pay my loan and I explained to the representative that I never got a loan and that I'm not interested and want my money back. I was told it would take 10-14 business days.



Seems like its the same script that these scammers are reading just the name of the company is different. Mitchell and Rose's number was disconnected a week after me and others were scammed. Upon investigation, it was discovered that these people were never based in Cambridge MA and that they were in Canada with ties in Spain which is where they asked the money to be wired.



Good Luck

They have a toll free number and a website.  They've been around for a while.  They are a broker's firm I believe but the company is actually a company with a business id.  I did my research on them and they are listed as a business with bbb.  I am currently working with the bbb to reolve the issue.  I dont believe they are going to refund me my money at all but I want the bbb to investigate this business and their business practices. They are frauds.

Your money is gone and the BBB will not be able to help you.  In a few days, the phone number you used to contact these schmucks will no longer be in service-they use disposable cell phones.

You fell for what is called an "advance fee loan scam."  You can read more about this type of scam at the FTC website www.ftc.gov