Advance Cash USA - Payday Loan Collection Scam

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions is warning consumers to verify the license of any lending professional they are considering doing business with. You can verify a license by calling the Department of Financial Institutions at 1-877-RING DFI (746-4334) or online at https://www.dfi.wa.gov.

Note: "Advance Cash USA" Should Not Be Confused with Advance America

The Department has received a report of what appears to be a payday loan collection scam. A consumer reported that they had been contacted by e-mail by an entity claiming to collect debt owed to a company named Advance Cash USA. The email also contained a company name of Advance Cash Legal Services. The collection attempt also involved a threat of a lawsuit. It appears that the consumer who was contacted does not actually owe money to Advance Cash USA.

The following contact information is associated with this e-mail: [email protected]

Addresses: 202 Independence Ave, Washington DC 20201 (address does not appear to exist)

This entity is not licensed by the Washington State of Department of Financial Institutions as a payday lender or by the Washington State Department of Licensing as a collection agency.

Washington residents are advised that state law provides in RCW 31.45.105(1)(d) and (3) that a small loan made by an unlicensed entity to a person physically located in Washington is uncollectible and unenforceable in Washington State.

Verify Licenses

DFI strongly recommends that consumers deal only with those lenders that are properly licensed to conduct business. Consumers can determine whether lenders are properly licensed using the "Verify a License" feature on the DFI's website at https://www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/findcompany.htm.

Payday Loan Debt Collection Laws

Collection activities are subject to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Therefore, if you have questions regarding debt collection laws please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 382-4357 (1-877-FTC HELP), or online at https://www.ftc.gov.

Report Fraud

Washington State residents, if you are suspicious of unlicensed activity by a payday lender please contact the Department at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online at https://www.dfi.wa.gov.

If you live in another state, go to this webpage to find the regulator in your home state. http://mortgage.nationwidelicensingsystem.org/consumer/Pages/AgencyContacts.aspx

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or online at www.ftc.gov; or contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau 1-855-411-CFPB (2372) or online at http://www.consumerfinance.gov. Because the scammers have access to bank account information and social security numbers, victims should consider themselves victims of identity theft and take appropriate precautions. The Federal Trade Commission has information for victims of identity theft available online at www.ftc.gov.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam involving the Internet please contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online at https://www.ic3.gov.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam and are concerned about your personal financial information, contact your banking institution, and the three major credit bureaus.