Description

I was researching a small personal loan online. Ater going from one place and being directed to another and another and another I closed all windows because I felt I was in a wormhole getting nowhere. I noticed I had received a voice as follows “08/05/25, 9:25 PM) Hi, Mr. Johnstone. This is Cathy Smith calling you from the USA United Lending, and this call is in regards to the loan application which you might have applied online recently. So congratulations that you have been fully approved to get a loan, which is from $2000 to fully up to $10,000 the lowest interest rate of 10% and the flexible. So in order to complete with the verifications and get this dispersal done that to be today itself, kindly give us a call back on the same number or else you can just simply call us on 850-273-6867. Thank you and have a lovely day. Bye bye” I returned Cathy’s call. Turns out it was a direct line. Cathy told me I was approved for a $5000. Cathy proceed to say that 36 months financing $5000 would be $152/month and 24 months at $249/month Cathy then gave me “Unique Funding Number PDE99830 and that I was going to be contacted by Jonathan Morris - Loan Manager. Cathy said “in the meantime we need to receive a Bank Authorization notice from my bank” Cathy then emailed me a link (This is where the scam really kicks in! ) https://usaunitedlendingft.com “Bank Authentication As per the law of Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, we would need to verify you to check your repayment capacity and also that you are not misusing anyone's identity. To do this verification - please agree to the consent form and move ahead with the loan officer instructions. I hereby authorize Capital One Finance Group (under reversal credit & reversal process) to access and utilize the following banking information for the specific purpose of processing payments, setting up direct deposits, etc.” If you have linked your bank acct to an exterior bank .there is a search bar to locate your bank. (Cathy Stays on the phone with you the whole time) Cathy then told me at the bottom of this bank search page is another link to select that will save time. “Other Banks and Credit Unions” The next window that popped up resembles “PLAID” and looked like below - “Enter Your Banking Details Put the right information that you use for your mobile banking or else your bank will not recognize you. Enter Bank Username Password Email ID Securely linked with all mobile/online Banking Server” Cathy assured me they DONT SEE MY INFORMATION. After attempting 2x trying to connect my bank I recieved a call from the loan manager Jonathan Morris. Who assured me that we could “Authorize The Bank” by means of me giving them my Routing and Account information. Jonathan Morris stated they would deposit a small amount into my account that I would return to them by “Cash App” or “Apple Pay” But I couldn’t let go of the Look Alike “Plaid” and my information rejected. Jonathon proceeded to tell me that my bank had sent USA United Lending an email Denying the Authorization. Jonathan said “Well maybe you just need to try again and are you positive you put in the details correctly?” After I said I am positive. Jonathan stated that in the email that was sent to him from my bank was information that may expedite the authorization. Jonathon Morris, the Loan Manager at USA United Lending then preceded to recite my Username and the Password. At that point I said “My Bank would Never email that information” I then said “You sir are a Crook” I ended the call. Immediately reported my account card had been lost. Changed my Username and Password and then placed a call to the Fraud Dept of my bank to report this interaction. I don’t believe there’s a legitimate online company to finance a personal loan for you. This is the second time in a year that I’ve had an online company attempt a scam. Just beware and remember the old saying “if it seems to good to be true, it probably is!”