(EDITOR’S NOTE: Part two of The Daily Herald’s local scam coverage looks at one reporter’s experience with the suspect Liberty Savings Bank, plus more comments from Dan Tanner, a victim from McAlevys Fort.)
‘My name is also Paul Walker’
Curious to test the wits of these “fraudsters” who use the northern border like a safety net to prey on vulnerable people, this reporter posed as a loan-seeking college graduate in the market for a new car, and called a phone number for the suspect Liberty Savings Bank that was provided by Dan Tanner, 27, a victim from McAlevys Fort.
Heeding “parental advice,” I asked the “fraudster,” a friendly woman with an unfamiliar accent, to explain the loan procedure at her Liberty Savings Bank before moving on with any sort of loan application.
With utter avoidance, she asked, “Sir, where are you calling from?”
I chose not to lie — “Huntingdon, Pennsylvania.”
She must have been the same woman who ignored earlier calls from a phone at The Daily News, which is The Daily Herald’s sister paper. Journalists mean trouble for scam artists. At least they are smart enough to use caller ID.
“Sir, I’m sorry, but this is the Toronto office. You will have to call your local representative.”
Food for thought: How many Delaware banks have a Toronto office?
“And what is that number?”
“866-205-7328.” The number listed in the alleged false advertisement that ran in both The Daily News and The Daily Herald and lured Tanner.
Before closing the conversation, the woman added, “When clients refer our services, they can receive 10 percent off monthly payments, so tell the people at the other office your friend’s name who referred you.” But a referral was never mentioned. Tricky how they scam to the last breath.
In the same unfamiliar accent, my local representative, a man, answered the phone with gimmick lines more rehearsed than my own — “We offer personal loans, home loans, mortgage loans, business loans, refinances. Our interest rates are from four to nine percent, and you must be over 18 years old with some form of income, whether it’s disability, social assistance or unemployment.”
“But first, the loan procedure,” I said.
“I need your information. It will help me keep track of your application process.”
The loan procedure first.
“I’m sorry, sir. I’ll need your information to go further.” Apparently, fraudsters do not waste time on cautious people.
Foreseeing a dead-end, I asked for his name.
“Paul Walker,” he said. Paul Walker — how very unthreatening, common, American — and dishonest. Personal judgment said his accent was not that of a man named Paul Walker.
Like a friend of a friend, the “fraudster” asked for my name in return. Scam artists are smooth, and they will pretend to be interested until they make off with your money.
“My name is also Paul Walker.”
Infuriated, he said, “This is a place of business. We do not have time for your jokes. We are very busy today.” Paranoia is a suggestion of guilt.
“I am being as honest with you, sir, as you have been with me,” I said. “Now, please, the loan procedure. I need a new car.”
After several minutes waiting on hold, I gave up. How quickly two men sharing the same fake name lose interest in each other.
Tanner speaks to citizens
Tanner wanted to share his story to warn local people about fraud scams like the one that robbed him.
“I’m upset with myself, and I’m upset with the company,” Tanner said.
“I’m strapped for money, and I’m upset this company is out there. I talked to the FBI. They know about this scam, yet they never contacted newspapers or TV-10 to get this into the public so people know. That’s why I’m telling my story, so people know. This isn’t easy for me. I don’t want this to happen to anyone else. What better way to shut them down than to inform people so they stop sending money.”
Now, Tanner, whose family has been living at his father’s house, is working to compensate for $729 lost.
“I have to find another way to get money for the house, or I won’t be able to get it,” he said. “I had taken loans from family and friends to pay bills. I took money set aside to pay for my truck and my car for a month, and that’s what I sent to these people.”
The last time Tanner talked to the alleged fraudsters, they said someone would be in touch to refund money he sent in pre-loan fees.
He does not plan to seek out answers or revenge.
“I’m tempted to call them back,” he said. “But it’ll probably do more harm than good, as upset as I am. It’ll cause more stress than it’s worth.”
Tanner’s father, Dan Sr., expressed frustration with government officials who “are aware of these scams, but don’t do anything to let people know.”
The elder Tanner said he wishes the state department “would go to Washington and say, ‘We need to contact Canadian authorities and tell them to cut this off.’”
“If they traced the active phone lines, they could shut this down. They could actually get the people who do this.”
Congressman Shuster released a statement stating that there is no federal legislation to govern scams operating across national borders.
“It is terribly unfortunate that innocent people are being taken advantage of,” Shuster said. “In today’s information age, where people can buy things over the Internet or phone, there needs to be a balance with privacy.”
Tory Mazolla, Shuster’s spokesperson, said there is federal legislation pending in the Commerce Committee against “phishing,” a method used by identity thieves to extract personal information from people by sending e-mails that appear to be from legitimate companies.
