Avenue Financial Group
Faudulent Loan Company Scam

On December 2 I began searching the internet for a long term personal loan. I filled out a short, simple form on the Lending Tree site. The next day I recieved a phone call from Ethan Hunt (extension 730), an account executive with Avenue Financial Group. He explained that he worked for a company that provides long term personal loans to people with less than perfect credit and that I had been approved for an $8000.00 loan. This was a two year loan with a 6% ineterest rate and monthly payments of $354.56. But because I was considered a high risk client I would have to pay a security deposit for my loan in the amount of $1418.24 to a personal lender. This would be the first four months' payments and my first payment would not be due until May 1.

Mr. Hunt told me I needed to wire the money via Money Gram directly to Ms. Linda Thornton (the personal lender) in Selkirk, Canada. He said that I only needed to send an even $1400.00 and the $18.24 would be deducted from my loan. I had never used the money gram service before this so I had no idea what to do. He explained that I needed to go to my local Walmart and ask for a red and white person to person form. I did this on Saturday December 6 and called him with the reference number. He then asked for the total amount it costed and I told him $1428.00. He said I would be reimbursed the $28.00 for wiring the money. He assured me that the money would be in my account by 5:00 PM on Monday December 8,
2008.

Monday morning I received an urgent phone call from a Mr. Dennis Crown stating that there had been a problem in processing my loan and that I needed to send $1400.00 more to cover the insurance for the loan in case it went into default. Of course I did not have an additional $1400.00 to send these people. He said that I could either send the additional funds or request a refund. I requested a refund from this company/lender. He then told me that I would not be able to receive my refund until January 5 because that is when the lender's billing cycle is. He also said that his accounting department would give me an additional $200.00 for my trouble because it was afterall, Christmas time.

Today is January 5 and the money has yet to be returned to my checking account (which is information that I faxed these people along with a copy of my ID and social securtiy number). I have had to close my checking account and open a new one. I have contacted my local police department; the New York Attorney General's office; and the Selkirk, Manitoba (Canada) Police Department, all to no avail. Something needs to be done to these criminals. Their website, phone and fax numbers are no longer working... So I am sure that they are operatting under a different name and location.

Company: Avenue Financial Group
Country: USA
State: New York
City: Garden City
Address: 595 Stewart Ave
Phone: 8664036662

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