Local family shares story of being scammed to warn others

Jason and Tiffany Jaynes just celebrated their two-year wedding anniversary a few days ago.

Combined the couple has seven boys from age 7 to 17.

They wanted to give their children a Christmas to remember and decided to apply for an online loan.

“We thought we were being cautious. She mentioned it to me. The one company that they said they were from called. I said, ‘Well this must be legit, they’re calling and following up and saying what she filled out was approved,'” said Jason Jaynes.

However, the company Cash Advance America wasn’t legitimate–it was a scam.

After they gave out their personal information the wife received a call.

“I had been approved for $3,000 and that all I needed to do was go to Walgreens and get a card, put 175 dollars on it and then call him back give him the number and it would be deposited within 10 minutes,” said Tiffany Jaynes.

When the couple was then asked to shell out another $375 for the Federal Reserve, they realized something was wrong.

Their $175 was gone.

“That $175 was very important to us. I mean it was really what we had and I feel violated that they just took it and didn’t even think twice,” said Jaynes.

Samantha Gillihan with the Better Business Bureau says it is best to avoid online loans.

“If you’re looking for a loan around Christmas time instead of going to some unknown online place…there are a lot of local places not just banks and credit unions but places around town that do kind of quick-cash loans,” said Gillihan.

The BBB wants to remind you that most scam websites will not include office locations, a contact number, and information about the states in which they operate.