Жительница Консиль-Блафс потеряла тысячи долларов на мошенническом онлайн-кредите

Council Bluffs woman alleges online lender demanded fees, delivered no loan OMAHA, Neb. (WOWT) - The dream of owning a home led to a financial nightmare for a Council Bluffs family after a bridge loan through an online lender who demanded fees upfront. A woman identified only as Dawn, who alleges she is a fraud victim and asked that her last name not be used, says she paid thousands of dollars in upfront fees for an online loan. “I expected a hundred thousand dollars and I got nothing,” Dawn said. “They keep wanting more. Every time we are supposed to close, there’s another fee that pops up,” Dawn said. The plan for a new home Living in a rental house, Dawn says the debt consolidation loan was meant to help her qualify for a mortgage to buy a home in the country. “We were very excited. We had the house picked out. We even went to do painting for it to be FHA compliant,” Dawn said. Dawn alleges the California-based online lender has been non-compliant with her requests for the loan or a refund of almost $7,000 in fees. Warning signs Josh Planos of the Better Business Bureau says the situation carries classic warning signs of a scam. “Legitimate lenders never ask you to pay a fee before you receive your loan. So if you are asked to pay upfront through wire transfer, gift cards or cryptocurrency, that is your signal to stop,” Planos said. A promised refund, then silence Dawn recently received an email from the California lender promising a refund if she paid loan cancellation charges of $650 by Aug. 28. The offer was sent by someone identified as Steven Smith of the “cancellation and settlement team.” A reporter called the number provided and reached someone claiming to be Steven Smith, but the call was disconnected shortly after the reporter identified himself. Dawn also called the lender’s customer service number and was unable to reach anyone. With no debt consolidation loan and no refund of fees, Dawn says she remains hopeful. “I’m hopeful for a check,” Dawn said. But she worries the situation may have cost her the chance at a mortgage. “I’m really hurt and angry both. It takes away what we thought we were getting — a home,” Dawn said. Dawn has filed complaints with the Iowa Attorney General and the state Division of Banking. She has also made reports with several federal agencies. Copyright 2026 WOWT. All rights reserved.