MILWAUKEE — First it was Jessica, now, it’s Evelyn. 

Scammers are at it again, posing as representatives from loan processing companies to trick consumers into sharing personal information, first using the name Jessica, now Evelyn from “Lending Union’s west coast branch” (Lending Union is not a real company). This advanced fee loan phishing scam often comes in the form of harassing phone calls and voicemails. The caller insists they need to verify minor details, such as your income, to finalize your loan application. While the message may sound convincing, it’s a ruse to steal your private information. 

How the scam works 

You receive a call or voicemail from someone claiming to be from a loan processing team. The caller says they’ve been trying to contact you about your loan application and need to verify some final details to complete your approval, although, more than likely, you never applied for a loan. They provide a callback number and application ID to make the message seem legitimate. The voicemail emphasizes urgency, requesting you call back before a specific deadline to finalize the loan. 

BBB has received over 500 Scam Tracker reports about “Jessica” and over 1,000 about “Evelyn” indicating that scammers are aggressively targeting consumers. People report receiving multiple calls per day, often from different phone numbers but with nearly identical voicemail scripts. Realistically, there is no loan, and returning the call could lead to scammers collecting sensitive information, such as your Social Security number, bank account details, or other personal data. 

Tips to avoid a loan processing phishing scam 

●  Verify the company’s legitimacy: If you’re contacted about a loan application you don’t recall submitting, hang up and do your research. Look up the company name online and contact them directly using verified contact information.

●  Never share personal information with unsolicited callers: Scammers often ask for details like your Social Security number or bank account information. Avoid sharing sensitive information over the phone unless you initiate the call. 

●  Watch for red flags in voicemails: Be wary of messages with vague details, generic names, or urgent demands for a callback. Scammers often use scripted messages to target as many people as possible.  

●  Avoid calling unknown numbers back: Resist the urge to call the number back. Returning calls to unknown or suspicious numbers could connect you to scammers or result in unexpected fees.  

●  Check for scam reports: Look up the phone number or details of the voicemail online. Many victims post about similar scams to warn others.  

●  Report suspicious activity: If you believe you’ve been contacted by a scammer, report the incident to BBB Scam Tracker at BBB.org/ScamTracker.