POLK COUNTY, Fla. – A Central Florida couple is out thousands of dollars after applying for a loan online, only to discover it was a scam.
Vanessa Cox said she still struggles with the loss.
“I don’t want other people to go through what I went through, it’s hard,” she said.
Cox was browsing social media when an ad appeared for a loan from Greenish Credit and Lending Corporation.
It was not the real company.
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She applied and was immediately approved.
“They offered me the 0.25 interest for like a $20,000 loan, I said that’s a good deal,” Cox recalled.
The fake company sent her a loan endorsement letter and assigned a fake loan officer named Anika Mabanta.
Cox was told there was a $650 processing fee, which she paid.
“They told me that the bank account I sent to them is completely wrong,” Cox said.
“In order for you to correct your bank account, you’re gonna have to send another $650 just to correct it,” she said.
Over the next few days, the crooks kept coming up with reasons for Cox to send money and the transactions increased in size.
According to the police report Cox filed after realizing it was a scam, she sent a total of $18,670.
“I didn’t even realize that it was all a scam until the end,” Cox said.
Many of the transactions were made with her debit card.
When she tried disputing them with her bank, she received a letter denying her claim, stating there was no “unauthorized activity.”
“I feel abandoned by my bank,” Cox said. “Because my bank refused to help me.”
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News 6 contacted Cox’s bank, Capital One.
A spokesperson said they cannot discuss individual clients but provided a statement via email.
“At Capital One, we know how devastating and disheartening it can be to fall victim to a scam,” the email reads.
“We continue to invest in numerous ways to protect customers, especially as scams become increasingly sophisticated, while also continuing to support our customers through these unfortunate experiences. We are committed to protecting our customers and their finances, which includes attempting to recoup funds when we are able.”
The company also offered tips to protect yourself from scams:
- Resist the pressure to act immediately. Scammers often try to convince you time is running out for an offer.
- Be cautious of sites that advertise deals that seem far below market value or ask for unconventional payments like gift cards, cryptocurrency or wire transfers.
- Always double check website addresses - scammers often create pages that look nearly identical to trusted retailers.
- Never share your passwords or account information and never lend your cards to anyone.
- Remember: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
- To learn more, visit capitalone.com/stopscams
If you’ve fallen victim to a loan scam, experts advise you file a police report, monitor your credit reports and consider placing a credit freeze with all three credit bureaus.
Remember, don’t fall for the scheme, don’t get ripped off but if you do, email me at LBolden@WKMG.com.
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