retired - household finance inc

#1 12 February 2007, 19:31

can you check on household finance inc. for grant awards

FW Admin · #2 13 February 2007, 04:42

Moved into a seperate thread.

If you have received any unsolicited emails advising you that you have just been given a grant, irrespective from whom it has been sent, it is highly likely that it is a scam. If it is possible, check the sender's email address (i.e. sender@domainname.com) and if it's a free, anonymous webmail service (such as Yahoo, Hotmail etc) then it's a guaranteed 100% fraud.

If you can copy and paste the content of the email here, it would help us to check whether any common scam phrases or names have been used.

#3 23 February 2007, 16:44

I was mailed a check from Household Finance Inc. for $4,925.40. I took it to the bank and opened a new savings account with it. It bounced and now I owe the bank $6.00 for the return. I Googled household inc. and came across your site. How do these people get away with it? Acording to the letter that came with it I was supposed to cash the check and send them $3,100.00 for procesing fee's ( I guess I was supposed to send it right away LOL) but I wanted to wait till the check cleared( I follow Fox Mulders teachings-TRUST NO-ONE) I'm glad I didnt let my greed take over but I did stupidly open a savings account with it. Both my husband and I are disabled and really can't afford to support a savings account. I found this site by accident but I think I will become a member even if its only to keep an eye open and see what is going on before I DO do something stupid and get ripped off.
Vera Taylor

IguanaVera · #4 23 February 2007, 18:35

Actually I should say before I get ripped off worst!!

FW Admin · #5 23 February 2007, 21:07

I'm sorry to hear you were scammed, but fortunately, as you said, you did not send the criminals any of the money otherwise, at the very least, you would certainly have had to make a repayment.

Can I suggest that you take the letter that came with the check, together with any email correspondence you have had with your scammers, and explain the situation to the manager and/or fraud security officer there? They would be all too familiar with this type of scam and I am sure that they can close down the account you opened, and they may even consider, in mitigation, to waive the returned check fee for you. However, I would suggest that you do talk to your bank and tell them about it - that way, they will not harbour any ideas that you may be implicated in the fraud.

IguanaVera · #6 24 February 2007, 00:45

Good idea, I emailed the bank and told them about the check's bouncing. I also thought about taking it all to the FBI or someone like that. The one check was for $23,678.60 isnt there some way to press charges for passing bad checks or something?

FW Admin · #7 24 February 2007, 01:22

Unfortunately, the criminals that perpetrate these frauds hide behind anonymous free webmail accounts, and prepaid cell phones that are untraceable. The FBI are unable to do anything about them unless they are based in the USA; most of the originators usually carry out these crimes from abroad.

In addition, the cost of resourcing such an investigation usually means that they will not undertake them unless a substantial amount of funds (usually six figures or more) has actually been stolen/defrauded.

The best weapon we have against these scams is education; furthering the knowledge of the world to recognise and understand these scams. The more people know about them, the less victims these scammers will be able to catch, and their "business" will cease to be profitable to them. You, me, each of us can help that by ensuring that our family, friends, acquaintances and business associates are told and informed about these crimes.

IguanaVera · #8 24 February 2007, 02:31

I did some searching on the phone #'s caller ID came up with and they are in New York. when I did a google on the company "Fido Solutions" it was in Halifax N.S. then they called last week and my son forgot to give me the message so I went threw like 1 million caller ID numbers and found another number from a place called "Focal Communications" and that place is all over the place. no wonder they cant catch them they could be calling from the moon for all anyone knows. I'm just glad I didnt loose more then $6.00

FW Admin · #9 24 February 2007, 03:01

Indeed; many communications providers offer "redirect" or "forwarded" numbers that are geographically located in certain towns/cities of the USA, Canada or the UK. These basically offer a service where all calls are diverted to a cell number, possibly in West Africa or Europe. These services are chargable, and when used by the scammers, usually paid for using stolen or "phished" credit card details. When the providers are informed of fraudulent activity on the account, they discontinue the service, which is why in many cases the scammers often change telephone numbers some way into the scam.

IguanaVera · #10 24 February 2007, 04:19

The people running those places know what they are being used for. Why else would someone want that type of phone number. Some one got ahold of our phone number a few years back and started to pile up a lot of 900 and long distance calls to the amount of about $600.00 so NOW I put blocks on our phone line - no 900 numbers- no long distant numbers- no tole numbers nothing but local calls. If we want to call long distance we use our sons cell phone and just pay for the time on his phone. I cant see how someone can justify trying to rip off money like that. It's a sad old world when people take something like the internet- which could be used for education etc- and turn it into a problem that I imagin a lot of financially busted people wish was never created. I get about 200 emails from porn, african widows, etc. every day.

#11 24 February 2007, 22:49

i had just recieved the same thing from the same company. Should i call this muller guy back and tell him off!!!!

IguanaVera · #12 24 February 2007, 23:38

The one I got from HouseHold Finance for $4,925.40 bounced so I did a google on HHF and a lot of people got "loans" from them and are being sucked dry. I think ol Fox got retired along with Ms.Scully. Sure do miss that show but at least I can watch the reruns on Sci-Fi marathons.

Maybe things like this are why I like Fanny Flag books so much- they seem like a more inocent trusting time. But my favorites are S.K. books. More what life is like. Exspecially here in B.R. we actually had 4

running at the same time and the police I know are pretty sure there are still at least 1-2 still out there.

Frazzle · #13 25 February 2007, 01:06

Quote:

Originally Posted by rory29

Should i call this muller guy back and tell him off!!!!

I don't think there's any point. Scammers know that they're scammers, and that they irritate people, and that their scams will inflict pain on their victims, and that some of their victims will recognise the scam. So you're not telling him anything new.

But if it makes you feel any better, maybe. Of course, with caller ID, this also gives the scammer your phone number. And you will be paying for the call. Remember that scammers prefer that you call at 3am. :p Maybe you could arrange a bunch of people to call him every hour or so, day and night?

#14 26 February 2007, 19:11

I have recieved a check also from Houshold Finance, Inc. Say that I am recieving a grant for home improvements. I have been scammed in the past so I called the bank that the check was issued from. All they could say was that the bank account was open. How do I find out if this check is a fraud?

#15 26 February 2007, 20:32

I recieved this letter today. I enter about a zillion sweepstakes a day and even I was a little skeptical. I spoke with "Cathy Brown" and she assured me this was indeed "for real" and that I indeed won. When my initial shock and excitement wore off my rational self took over.

First I researched the company on whose account the check purported to be drawn. The copany indeed exists and the signature on the check appeared to be from the founder of the company. However, his phone number kept going to voicemail. (I should note that this is a company that institutes "lean manufacturing" and has nothing to do with Sears or Publishers Clearinghouse).

Next I researched Household Finanance Inc., but did so on my MSN search, not Google. Big mistake. Google produced this site, MSN did not. I called Bank of America to verify the authenticty of the check but their customer service said to take it to a location. All they could do was tell me if the account was open and that wasn't foolproof.

I took it to the location and it was indeed bogus. I called Cathy who instructed me that there was a "problem" with my check and she would look into it. Needless to say, she hung up on me and all calls are now going direct to voicemail.

I called the FBI, who instructed me to contact the United States Postal INspectors because they handle this type of fraud. My letter came via snail mail. I will be filing a complaint.

I alos contacted the person whose name, and companies name appeared on the check. I do not think he is involved and believe his identity was appropriated to conduct this scam. I am hoping to convince him to file a report as well. His signature appears ont he check so I am hoping his complaint will carry more weight, since I did not fall for this, so i have no real damages.

I hope some of this information helps people from making a BIG mistake. These people are good, the check even has a "watermark." They have messed with the wrong person and I hope to cause them aggravation.

#16 26 February 2007, 21:35

My wife and also were victim's of this very same fraud. Unfortunately we fell for the Cathy Brown scam. We were instructed to wire $2960.00 to a Houston Texas address and we would receive our second check for $44900.00 by Thursday this week. Same thing happened they bounced the check and essentially sucked $3100.00 from our account. The address on reverse diectory indicates the business Fido Solutions, is in Toronto Ontario Canada. They answer the phone HOUSEHOLD FINANCE. The recipiant in Houston Texas was Lori Sloan. Beware.

R. Morton
California

#17 26 February 2007, 22:55

I just received a check written on Bank of America for $4920.30 from Lean
Horizons Consulting, LLC. After scanning some of the posts on this site I can see that my financial future would have a lean horizon if I cash this check. The letter says to contact Randy Muller or Cathy Brown @ 1-647-818-5489. This web site has been very helpful in in shedding light on this scam. I will say the check looks very enticing and legitimate. I'm glad I did a little bit of research before thinking I hit the jackpot. THANXS

#18 26 February 2007, 23:17

Quote:

Originally Posted by kathy

can you check on household finance inc. for grant awards

Hi Kathy~I also received a $4,900 check in the mail from this company on a Bank of America check along with a letter...I checked the postmark and it was Canadian which I found to be interesting. My husband and I are going to take it to Bank of America to show them, but we believe it is a scam. If you look at the back of the letter you received, it states in bold capital letters "THIS NOTIFICATION LETTER IS VERY CONFIDENTIAL AND MUST BE KEPT AT HOME AT ALL TIMES"....so if that's not a scam then I don't know what is!! Please do not deposit a check from them or else you could find yourself owing your bank money!

#19 27 February 2007, 03:08

I received a check today for $4920.30 from Household Finance, Inc. Promising if I paid this fee of $3100 I'd receive a balance of $44,900. I called 1-657-818-5489 spoke to "Cathy" all the while thinking, this just sounds too good to be true. Of course it is! I called my boyfriend and talked to him about it and he analyzed every word in the letter..lol. He suggested I research the place on the internet and VIOLA!!! this website!!!!! I am so glad that I found this website before I just let my emotions take over and caused me to have "extra" unnecessary mess to deal with. I was rich for a second though...lol

EDDIE · #20 27 February 2007, 04:12

I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HOUSEHOLD FINANCE,INC SAT.24,2007 . THE LETTER SAYS TO CASH A 4,920.30 AND SEND 3,100 TO DORIS BROOKS IN HOUSTON TEXAS. CLAIM#5023 FRAUD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! MISS BROOKS SAID THE SECOND CHECK FOR 44,000 WOULD BE MAILED TODAY UPS.I SEEN THE POST TODAY ,I THANK YOU I HAD TIME TO STOP THE WESTERN UNION AND GOT MY 3100 BACK. THEY DID NOT GET THE MONEY THANK YOU FOR YOUR WEB SITE. MY LETTER CALL 1-416-858-7127 ASK FOR RANDY MULLER OR CATHY BROWN BUT THEY GAVE ME TO DORIS BROOKS. BE WARE OF HER SHE IS A PRO. THE DONORS A THE BACK OUR FAKE WAL-MART IS SUING THEM ONE COMPANY ON BACK WENT OUT OF BISNESS IN 1995 BANKRAPUTED.LEAN HORIZONS CONSULTING, LLC IS A FAKE