police are completely useless in this country

I just seen this episode and it made me smile at the fact that the host erica johnson going though all this to expose these scammers. Good job cbc!

This all makes me wonder IF Marketplace REALLY wants to do anything other than just run sensational stories! IF Marketplace and the police REALLY wanted to catch these scammers, they would have done so. This also reinforces my view that Marketplace ITSELF is a scammer--an entertainment scammer that is; promising to bust this and that but actually not doing much except pointing an accusing finger from VERY, VERY, VERY safe distance. IF Marketplace is TRULY on the side of consumers, I would like Erica and Wendy and everyone else at Marketplace to provide COMPLETE coverage of ALL aspects of a story, be way more daring in locating guilty parties such as these loan scammers, and otherwise PROVE to viewers that Marketplace is NOT just interested in bringing us interesting stories BUT ACTUALLY COMMITED to REALLY helping consumers in a tangible and credible way.

I enjoyed your program but was more than surprised that neither Erica nor the gentleman who's in law enforcement thought of TRACING the phone numbers of thse scammers! I mean tracing a telephone number IS possible? No? Or is it just a tv-csi invention! Why didn't Erica get the police to trace the scammers' telephone number while she was on line with them? I'm certain that IF MarketPlace OR the police REALLY wanted to track the scammers down they would find a way! Questions is: Why did neither MarketPlace nor the police do so? If pedophiles can be tracked down across the world, PLEASE do NOT tell me MarketPlace AND the police cannot locate a loan scammer in Ontario!!! Shame on you MarketPlace and even more shame on the police and RCMP!

Thank you so much for doing this story, It's so true about the danger out there on people trying to get our money.

Keep it up

Yes, I too would like to know why you didn't go to Brampton...is it because you know nothing will be done to these crooks...so why bother! Why aren't these people in jail? I think our Law makers are just as bad as the scammers. Maybe you could enlighten us on the reason why these crooks are not in jail.

Your friend,
Linda

The Loan Scams are not new. There are many fake loan companies listed in newspapers. Now they are on the Internet. Over 10 years ago, a friend of mine applied for a loan to many companies listed in the ads. All of them asked for Up-Front fees from $100 to $600. Even though the law states these are illegal. Even a salesperson on the phone told him that there is no signature required, then the so called loan officer said a signature is needed after my friend paid the fee. My friend applied for bankruptcy. After 10 years wouldn't the detective had closed down many of these Loan companies?

Enjoyed the piece, just wish that Erica would also have gone the address in Brampton that the money was to be sent to. It just seemed incomplete without seeing that location as part of the story. I'm guessing it was a dead end like the location in Maryland, but it would have made the story a bit more complete.

Just thought everyone should know that the company formerly known as Edison Financial is now doing "business" under the name New Horizon Lending Group. I was minutes away from sending a fax to these people and promising to send $2000 to receive back $59000 of a $60000 loan when I saw your article. These people should not only be stopped, they should be tried by the highest courts and forced to pay for duress to all those who have even come close to being their victim!

I have something similar that recently offered. In seeking an investor had a response from someone in London that said he could assist. Seemed legit with what he sent in email attach and over a month period, nothing rushed. However when the funds were supposedly sent through his 'off shore' banking it {loan} eventually ended up in Canada with the 'off shore' bank. They wanted me to send $ 2,800 by 'money gram', not 'western union' as it was to be the fees. They have no website, however did send me a copy of supposedly officer of bank. They go by National Financial Bank, 72 Davis Drive, Suite 202, Davis Plaza, New Market, ON. I know there is the National Bank Financial branch at same address, first floor and they are not related. Anyone else with this situation or experience? However they finally agreed to personally met if I get in the area...

I love your program but you let the detective off the hook. Yes, the internet is anonymous - but the phone system is NOT. If you were able to get hold of the company on what was probably a land line where you spoke with that manager, Bell Canada could have told you, within 10 square feet (!!), where that number physically rings - that detective got let off too easily - I would do a follow up show incorporating Bell Canada officials in it and challenging them to be part of the solution.

Not doing that shows that Market place is only interested in the 'Show' of the story and not really being part of the problem - however ... can you imagine what good press that would be if you could show that you actually CAUGHT the crooks (read that as, "... no budget cuts to the CBC due to increase public perception of value to society ...").

Three years ago I tried to get someone to listen to me.....they would not provide my signature to say I signed for it...........I am sure the tag team at my door signed it for me. Now house is sold and they want money from me and they are not nice people. My hydro bill went from 60 to 150.00 a month in less then two years.

I am so proud of you for airing this show I just wish you did it along time ago.

Thank you.........if you have any idea how to fight this please let me know !!!!!

It would've been really good if law enforcement would've tracked the money wire transfer. They would have to pick it up but I guess Western Union and Money Gram wouldn't play nice.

For those saying the police could, well the problem is even these websites are setup with bogus info. In a lot of cases as long as the hosting company gets their money, they don't care. This is really the problem so when the detective says, not all crimes can be investigated he's telling the truth. Sometimes things like this drop into a void of darkness, even with the RCMP there is so much fraud going on these days that unless the amount per person gets above 100k, they're already overworked, swamped and have so many ongoing cases that they're hard pressed to deal with critical cases.

One of my instructors is an investigator with the RCMP in the fraud division and he laments over the amount that happens, and the little that they can do. In many cases it gets left to local police forces, or provincial police if you're so lucky.

Good show....but too little too late for me. In fact, I think I wrote to Marketplace about 3 years ago when this happened to me. The people that were part of my scam did happen to get busted somewhere in TO, and part of the money was recovered by the local police, but not my "deposit". Did not hear back from the police who took these people to court. All I can say is huge lesson learned.

I have to wonder how these scammers sleep at night. These folks are definitely at the bottom of the 'scamming barrel'.

But I am shocked by the police's attitude. They could surely do more in shutting the process down. Did the Market Place production folks approach the police about working with them? 60 million last year - just how high does it have to go before the authorities get seriously involved?

What’s unclear to me is why the police haven’t shut down this scam. Seems fairly straightforward. On your show, you applied and were accepted for a “loan”. Then you were told where to forward the money to. Wouldn’t it make sense for the police to do the same? Apply for a loan, find out were the money was to be sent too, then position someone in the store and arrest whoever picked it up? Or follow them back to their base of operation. If they’re located within Canada shouldn’t the RCMP be able to coordinate a “sting” operation. Seems logical to me. The police get back the money they sent and catch the individuals involved in the scam.

Or if that’s not possible the ones scammed could set up their fax machines or computers to repeatedly dial the numbers of the scammers. If nothing else it would tie up their phone lines and prevent others from being scammed. May cost a little, but might be worth it for a little bit of revenge. Give them a little frustration for a change.

It seemingly doesn't matter what type of offence is committed, the Canadian "lame duck law" slips out from under the victim and the law-breaker carries on his merry way. - My faith in the Canadian justice system has long been erased.
HSR

Just saw your program, which my son told me I had to see. It was well done but I am surprised that Identity Theft was not mentioned. A person would have to apply to these agencies and give them their personal information including their SIN #. Not only are they not going to get the $5000 loan or the deposit they sent to them but now they have all their information to use his/her information and that is they can use over and over and over again. There is more to this story that needed to be to told but otherwise a great job.

I was involved in making a bad investment with a company I read about on an e-mail tip. Unfortunately I did not do enough investigating and the investment and the company have disappeared. I believe the name was Avante but could be mintaken. It was very silly not to investigate it more at the time. I was wondering if the Durham ploice officer who was on your show has heard of this scam?
Thanks

I can't believe how lazy or incompetent the police must be. Catching these people is EASY! All the police have to do is apply for a loan, as you did. When the loan is approved, send them the money through Western Union or however. All the police have to do then is have someone waiting at Western Union and arrest or follow the person who picks up the cash. I guarantee the people doing this will be there as soon as the money arrives. Then they can arrest these people and/or get a warrant to search their premises. Couldn't be simpler!

Note: Since there is probably more than one location where the money can be picked up, it may be necessary to send money once to determine which branch is used then a second time to catch them at that location, since they will probably use the same branch.

I personally find that with any form of Idendity Theft, it should be put as a criminal action, including how other's would explain about how they need to put a down payment for a loan. We, as a society need to have a lawyer to back ourselves up on situations like this. There is only so many policemen, but we need ALL retail, creditor's and business to have a more strict rule and regulaion!!!

From that video I see online, and seen on the TV is very creepy. Anyone's identity can be stolen, and if anyone is trying to scam any money or identity, they will, espically with today's economy going downhill extremely fast. I know Identity Theft is the fastest growing white-colar crime in the world. I luckily have a business that will help me restore my identity, without me losing my time off work, and losing wages.

Hello there, my name is Graeme Gibson, I would like to give you "Market Place" credit for expsoing who these scammers/fraudsters really are. The suspected companies page or web site is still there on google.com, However, all scammers must be exposed before they have a chance to go under the rug. There are infinant number of scammer tactics though...

Great job. Keep it up.I was sort of saddened to watch your show. It is very enlightening but I feel it reaches the educated and the elites meaning less of the real mass who are the victims of such SCAMS. Wonder how we can educate the less fortunate of us-the community at large!Watched Jon Stewart vs Cramer interview and felt the same way.

I think that banks should receive part of the blame here too. If not for the fact they aren't helping their customers out, these poor people wouldn't need to resort to going online and seeking loans from shady companies.

When Erica was dealing with Edison Financial, could she not have wired some money to a specific outlet in Brampton and just had the police nearby to apprehend the perosn who picked up the cheque?

Pretty shameful when Canadians were milked out of $60million last year by these scams. It's been a well known fact for years that you need to be very wary when giving out personal/credit information especially on the internet. Give your head a shake before you agree to send some company you've never heard of $3000 in hopes that your going to get anything in return.

Great show ! I'm a little surprized the police officer said'Not all things can be investigated'...Yes, the 1-800 lines and websites are created with fake information , however , if the scammers "admin" thier websites , they leave a definite electronic trail.The same can be said of the 1-800 lines.If they answer the phone , the call can be traced....

With the cooperation of law enforcement , it should'nt be hard to track these scammers down.

a fantastic investigative report that covered all angels that may stop scamers and I also would like to point out the activity of few home builders that setup possible home buyers who they were not approved by their banks and the home buyers get sucked in and introduced to mortgage companies that will loan you the money for a higher fee and also property management companies that specializes in renting and how they pull of a scam and get you to hand them the security deposit and never see the rented unit because it will be rented to someone else and there are tens who paid the deposit and never refund it...

Sorry...don't believe the cops can't track 'em and shut 'em down. If it was a much more high profile crime involving Internet child pornography, they'd be swooping down on their homes in a flash. I don't believe the police are really genuine about doing something for fools being separated from their own money.

Great story, but I would have liked it if she carried on the ruse further.

It's very tough to catch these guys. Even if they do succeed, the laws here are way too lax to do anything and most of these guys get off easy. Makes me wonder if it's possible to scam the scammers. So bottom line is you have to learn to protect yourself.

While I appreciate that these scams are being revealed, I was disappointed that the report didn't do a better job of educating consumers on where they can check to see if a loan company is legitimate. Lending is a regulated industry and, as such, each province has a regulator. Their websites provide lists of lenders licenced under various Trust and Loans law. Anyone not listed is operating illegally. Ontario's website: www.ontarioinsurance.com/english/regulate/loan-trust/

This is all so sad. I hope they'll intercept and arrest these criminals. Thanks for making this public. Hopefully it will prevent other cases.

I did a Google search of "Edison Financial" and found a new company by the name of "Edison Financial Services" based out of Florida. Wonder if they are one and the same as the company you exposed in your story aired March 13, 2009.

You ladies ROCK!

Hello , I would like Floyd to contact me . I believe i worked with him on the oilrigs in Alberta in the 80's.If you can give him my e-mail address it would be greatly appreciated

Thank you Marketplace for your program "LAWLESS LOANS" which was broadcast on March 13, 2009 on CBC-TV. Hopefully, people will learn from your program and not be so stupid to fall for these type of scams. Keep up the good work. JP

Thank you so much for the knowledge you pass along to the viewers. Keep up the good work.

I would have to give credit to Marketplace for exposing this kind of scam.

Where's law enforcement where you need them. Also we can shut down payday loans too since they're a scam