BEWARE: Websites Impersonating Licensed Idaho Consumer Lenders

Boise, Idaho… Patricia Perkins, Director of the Idaho Department of Finance, is warning consumers to be aware of spoofed websites. The Department recently became aware of a phony website purporting to represent Idaho licensed lender Ace Cash Express.

The Department has taken immediate action to have these websites removed; however, historically the Department has found perpetrators of website scams often create new sites under new names in an attempt to continue their efforts to victimize consumers.

Perkins urges Idahoans to exercise caution when visiting websites, especially those representing licensed lenders. “As these scams are growing increasingly sophisticated, it is more important than ever to do your homework.” A healthy amount of skepticism and research can help consumers identify fake websites. “Simply Googling the address a company lists on their website can be telling, if the address is an empty lot, a PO Box, or a private residence, these are definite red flags.”

Other tips to avoid falling victim to website spoofing scams include bookmarking websites you’ve confirmed are legitimate to avoid sifting through multiple results from a search engine. Call the phone number listed on the website and ask detailed questions. Look carefully at the URL, bad actors purposefully make slight changes to known web addresses to direct web traffic to illegitimate websites.

Above all, avoid providing any personal or financial information without first completely verifying the legitimacy of the entity. For a list of regulated consumer lenders in Idaho, visit the Department website https://www.finance.idaho.gov/ and select the “Licensee and Institution Search” tab. If you become aware of, or have fallen victim to, a spoofed financial lending website please contact Supervisory Examiner Tom Nate at (208) 332-8086 or tom.nate@finnce.idaho.gov