A company posing as the legitimate Texas-based lender Blue Sky Lending has been bombarding people across the country with harassing phone calls via (833) 587 8844 promising attractive loan offers. But consumer advocates warn these could be scammers trying to access your personal and financial information.
This scheme takes advantage of Blue Sky Lending’s real brand to fool call recipients through caller ID spoofing. The aggressive sales pitches pressure people to share sensitive details to apply for loans, which opens them up to identity theft or unwanted charges.
How the Blue Sky Lending Calling Scam Works
The calls come from a variety of numbers like 833-587-8844 and other different numbers that claiming as “Blue Sky Lending”. Recipients report getting as many as 4-7 calls per day from these numbers.
When people answer, an agent offers them special personalized loan products like mortgage refinancing, promising low rates or flexible repayment options. To “verify eligibility”, they first pressure callers to provide personal information like their Social Security Number and bank account numbers.
These agents likely have no actual lending capabilities. They either sell the data collected to other scammers, or funnel victims into unwanted high-interest loan products from shady third party companies.
Red Flags: What to Listen For
While scammers exploit the Blue Sky Lending brand, several red flags can help you identify and avoid engagement with these fraudulent calls:
- Unsolicited contact: Legitimate lenders generally only call pre-screened pre-approved customers. Cold calls proposing loans out of the blue should be treated with skepticism.
- Aggressive sales tactics: Scammers pressure callers to act fast and offer deals “available today only”, making it harder to scrutinize the opportunity.
- Vague company association: If questioned, callers give vague or conflicting answers about their direct Blue Sky Lending affiliation.
- Requests for upfront personal details: Free credit consultation never requires sharing sensitive info. Immediate loan eligibility shouldn’t be contingent on providing your SSN or bank account access.
- Use of multiple phone numbers: Frequent calls come from an array of numbers with no clear verified source.
- Unverifiable legitimacy: Callers have no licensing information, public contact info, or documentation supporting lender authorization.
What To Do if You Get a Phone Call from Blue Sky Loan
If you receive an unsolicited sales call claiming to be Blue Sky Lending, consumer protection groups strongly advise hang up immediately. Do not offer any personal or financial information.
Then take measures to prevent future harassment and fraud:
- Add numbers to your blocked calls list so they cannot contact you again.
- Report details like call dates, agent names, and phone numbers used to the FTC.
- Contact your phone carrier to explore call screening and blocking features.
- Monitor account statements closely for signs of any unauthorized access or activity.
- Sign up for a credit monitoring service to catch wind of any attempts to open fraudulent accounts.
Unfortunately Blue Sky Lending scam calls persist because con artists constantly switch between phone numbers. So eternal vigilance is required to avoid becoming another victim.
How to Spot Loan Offer Scams
While this particular scheme hides behind a real company’s identity, similar questionable loan offers should also raise your guard in other contexts. Here are tips for detecting scams:
- They contact you first: Legitimate lenders don’t cold call or text to pitch loan products. Decline unsolicited loan offers made through unverified numbers.
- Guaranteed approval: No lender can promise 100% approval without reviewing applicant details. Claims of “guaranteed loans” should provoke skepticism.
- Requests sensitive information: Asking for full Social Security numbers, bank account access, or other personal data upfront is highly suspicious behavior.
- Pressure to act immediately: Scammers create artificial urgency to make scrutiny difficult by offering short-term deals. Never make financial decisions under duress.
- No licensing or documentation: Fully verified lawful businesses will readily provide certificates, license documentation, addresses, websites, and customer service numbers if questioned on legitimacy.
What To Do If You Get Scammed by Fake Blue Sky Lending
If you already succumbed to a Blue Sky Lending scam call and supplied personal information or money, act quickly to mitigate damage:
- Call banks and credit card companies to halt payments/cancel any approved loans.
- Place fraud alert on your credit reports and review for unauthorized accounts.
- Change online account passwords, especially for financial institutions.
- Contact the FTC to file an official complaint about the scam.
- Notify local police department to have incident formally documented.
- Scan device for potential malware that may have been inadvertently downloaded.
In the unfortunate event that a scammer already misused your data for financial theft or identity fraud, a credit monitoring service can help you catch unauthorized activity early. A credit counselor at a non-profit organization can also advise you on potential protective steps to take.
How to Avoid Falling Victim Overall
While clever scammers find new angles to exploit unsuspecting consumers all the time, the following general practices can reduce your risk:
- Never provide personal or financial details to unsolicited contacts.
- Independently look up company phone numbers and call back directly if uncertain.
- Search business names online for reviews before accepting sales offers.
- Slow down decision making on financial offers calling for immediate action.
- Monitor account activity frequently for irregular fraudulent charges.
- Only work with accredited lenders that readily provide verifying documentation.
Exercising skepticism instead of haste when contacted with sales pitches limits opportunity for exploitation. Combining prudent information sharing practices with watchful account management establishes layered protection from potential financial scams or identity theft – especially brazen schemes like the Blue Sky Lending phone calls.