Southern United Financial
Complaint 3353 Details

I wired $882.00 on two different dates: 1st on 6/30/11 and the 2nd on 7/6/11) totalling $1764.00.

I really needed some money so I went on line to find if anyone could get me a loan. So when I got email that I qualified for a $5,000.00 loan my heart skipped a beat. It was from Luke Garrett, Loans Broker, Southern United Financial out of Jacksonville, Florida. Tel: 1-877-281-2112 Ext 334; FAX 1-904-758-0598. I called Mr. Garrett and he advised that I use western union affiliated with their company, it's easier to get funds released. So he told me to use CHECKMATE, got the address from him, that I did. I have copies of his email that I printed. I checked their website for BBB and since they were listed I took it for granted they were ok to deal with. Mr. Garrett sounded so sincere and honest.

My mother inlaw passed away recently and couple days later her younger sister passed. In order that the mortuary to receive and prepare the bodies, the total amount of the costs had to be paid in full prior to the funeral services (1 on 7/1/11 and the other 7/5/11). So our families pooled our money together and paid for both services and I being the good inlaw that I've been, and knowing that I was approved for a $5000 loan, I gave most of my money to help out. I was scammed out of $1764.00 from my monthly retirement income leaving me with my rent unpaid and some bills not paid, because "I counted my chickens before they hatched, so to speak".

The first time I wired $882.00 was 6/30/11, Mr. Garrett indicated that the $5000 was coming from an insurance company to fund the loan and I needed to wire the money to Lorena Skermo, Barcalona, Spain who in turn will forward the $5000 to Southern United Financial and a deposit will be made in my account by, because of the July 4th Holiday, it would be Tuesday, July 5, 2011 with "worst case scenerio by 5pm on 7/6/2011.

Nothing happened so I called Luke Garrett and he said my paperwork was sent to his boss and that I should call him. I called Mr. James Holtz, Ext. 479; and same # as Mr. Garrett. Mr. Holtz informed me that my credit score was somewhat low that I needed an additional $882.00 security deposit before the $5,000.00 was released to my bank and I did not have to repay for the 1st 8 mos of my loan agreement. Yes, my score is not the best score, he was so conveniencing, I bought it. Before, I said OK, I hesitated for a bit and Mr. Holtz told me that if I decided not to proceed with the loan, a refund can be made but I'd have to wait til July 30, 2011 to get a check issued back to me. In the meantime, my rent and other bills are due so I wired another $882.00, he said to use the same CHECKMATE, they already have the information and call him with the MSTN right away. I spoke with Mr. Holtz late Wednesday and promised he would get right with it in the morning and I should have my deposit by 5pm today, "worst case scenerio by 5pm 7/8/11". I was puzzled that he used the same language as Mr. Garrett. I called Mr. Holtz/Garrett today and they both were not available and I searched the web again and I realized I am scammed.

Please let me know what I should do if anything. I have the documents from Mr. Garrett and emails that I sent with no response to either....

Thank you.