THIS IS A SCAM and ronald is a lying scammer shill. This is a version of the advance-fee-for-something scam where something is a grant, grant paperwork, business plan, loan, scammed-money refund, lottery winnings, interest rate reduction, tax reduction, gift card, refund, doggie, cruise, vacation, free gas, etc., and the advance-fee is for tax, shipping, registration, insurance, secure handling, processing, etc. They may send you a fake check, may want your credit/debit card or bank account number, or tell you to wire cash via Western Union, Moneygram, etc. They can put recurrent difficult-to-cancel monthly charges or a 1-time charge on your card or bank account, and sell account info to other criminals and you'll have to replace accounts altogether. Wired-cash is irretrievable - once it's picked up at the other end, it's untraceable and gone. If they want you to call them up for instructions, they may tell you not to discuss the wire with Western Union desk clerks but the real reason is WU clerks are familiar with these scams and will warn you not to wire the money. If you give them the WU Money Transfer Control Number (MTCN) for the wire, they can pick up the money from anywhere in the world. Report to US Postal Service Inspectors https://postalinspectors.uspis.gov/forms/MailFraudComplaint.aspx , the Federal Communications Commission http://esupport.fcc.gov/complaints.htm , the Federal Trade Commission https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/ and your state AG http://www.naag.org/current-attorneys-general.php as appropriate.
Yes. First I received and "Unknown" call and answered it. It sounded like a sweat shop of South Asian nationals. Some guy called and said that I was approved to receive $25,000. So I said that was too much. I said that $8K would be suffice and then he said that I needed to contact a Luke Smith at 206-317-1664. I wanted to really get down to figure who these people were so, I called Luke Smith. He seemed nice and said that I was approved to receive $8K, but I needed to deposit via Western Union $400 to see if I had the credibiity to pay. Now why would I have to deposit that large of a money if I needed money?
He also said that the name of his company was Consumer Payday Loans. He said to go ahead and check out the website, and there is one, but without information to determine where the headquaters were. Luke said that they are backed up by the US National Bank in Washington D.C., but there isn't one.
When I told him that I would need to do more thinking about it, he was nice enough to let me go and said to keep his number. He said that he is aware of a lot of people sending money, but not receiving their funds as well. There was something to the effect of their funds being sent to people that were being intercepted. So I would be careful on this one.
The thing that really is creepy is that this man sounded South Asian or Indian and that his last sentence was "God bless..." Sounds like the thing the other scammers have left me with who call randomly from differently disconnected numbers, threatening us poor people who are looking for help.
This is getting ridiculous and why are these people from that country asked to scam on us. I hope I don't sound discriminatory because I am Asian myself. I look at this situation as a people problem, and people doing what they need to do to probably survive by threatening other people.
I have called an reported these people to the Federal Trade Commission and FBI. In fact, I give them their numbers to call back on.
Same thing happened to me and my mom they called and said she was approved for up to five thousand and to send 150 via western union..me and my mom jumped at the offer and scraped up 150 I don't kno why we had to send that amount when we needed money when we filled out the paper to send it they kept putting us on hold and it was supposed to be more than one worker but they all sounded the same once they found out we wired the money they continuously put me on hold and never came back to the phone we kept calling and they kept putting us on hold they finally came back to the found and said they couldn't find our wire transfer and asked what state I sent it to I responded TX an he said noooo it's SC I hurry up and called western union to get my money back and I did...and I get on here the next day and see this ..god is good !!!!
I am so sorry to those who got robbed of their money but at the same time, I am so very very grateful that you posted here for the rest of us. I was just in the process of returning a call to Mr. Luke Smith and got no answer. Decided to Google the number and found this. Again I am truly sorry for those that lost their money, but thank you deeply for posting here. I was about to get taken as well.
Pam
These folks lie, lie, lie, promise funds for a loan but steal all your money first, you will never get your money, they just tranfer you on to another person who in turn requests even more money...... They made me lose all I had, single mom of 2 children. I was really hurting and falled for the offer. DONT BELIEVE THEM!!! I tried arguing with Luke Smith, he told me to shut up, called me a bi***, amongst other horrible things...... I hope you guys go down, pay the price for all the hell youve created with families. I hope I have some place to live for me and my girls tomorrow.