Have you received a worrying phone call or voicemail from a woman named Evelyn who is deeply concerned about your loan application and just needs a little more info?
There is no Evelyn, the Better Business Bureau said in an alert Aug. 5, and no “Lending Union,” the company she names. It’s a scam to get your Social Security number, bank account details and other personal information from you, and it’s happening a lot.
The BBB has received about 1,500 Scam Tracker reports in under a month over the same phone call from “Evelyn” or, before her, “Jessica,” with the same message, the agency said. The BBB serving Central Florida said in an email they talked to “a frustrated local woman” who had received over 100 loan processing scam calls all by herself.
Here’s what to know.
What does ‘Evelyn’ from ‘Lending Union’ say in the loan processing phishing scam?
“Hi, this is Evelyn with Lending Union’s West Coast branch,” a sample voicemail said. “I’ve been trying to reach you over the past few days. I left a voicemail and sent a text last week but I haven’t heard back so I just wanted to follow up personally.
“I’m not assigned to your file and it looks like we’re almost there. Everything’s almost approved and ready to go. We just need to confirm a couple quick things specifically in income related. And if it’s easier, you can also complete that online through the loan portal If you’ve got a minute now.”
The call continues with different ways you can provide information, including a callback number and application ID to make the message seem legitimate, the BBB said.
What is the loan processing scam?
In the scam, someone claiming to be from a loan processing team says they’ve been trying to contact you about your loan application and need just a few more details. While most people answering the phone likely have not applied for a loan, this can be very dangerous for someone who has and is eager for an approval.
Returning the call, or going to the provided website, can lead to scammers collecting sensitive information that can help them steal your identity or cash.
How to avoid loan processing scams
According to the BBB, check everything.
Floridians a favorite target for scammers
Floridians were scammed out of more than $1 billion in 2024, according to the latest annual Internet Crime Report released by the FBI in April, up from $874.74 million the year before. The Sunshine State saw both the third-most complaints and the third-highest losses behind California ($2.5 billion) and Texas ($1.35 billion).
The hardest hit? People older than 60, the IC3 report said. In 2024, seniors were taken for just under $300 million, nearly the same amount that was scammed from people of all other ages combined when ages were known. And the numbers are almost certainly much higher than that, as many people may be embarassed to come forward after they’ve fallen for a scam.
Earlier this year, Floridians were beset with fake toll charge texts demanding online payment. The Florida Attorney General’s Officed reported that hundreds of fraudulent SunPass websites had been taken down, but scammers are still out there.
“Stay vigilant and cautious to protect yourself from phishing scams like this one,” the BBB said. “If an offer seems too good to be true, it likely is!”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: Got a call from ‘Evelyn’ about your loan? It’s a scam, the Better Business Bureau warns
Reporting by C. A. Bridges, USA TODAY NETWORK – Florida / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
