Cash N Minutes.com: Beware Anonymous Fat White Guys With Cigars
So let's take a look at the number one organic (non-paid) result you get when you Google the words "need cash." Cash N Minutes.com promises a loan of up to $500 with no credit check -- heck, you don't even need to talk with a real human being (not that you could, since the site provides no contact information besides an e-mail address, but we'll get to that later). Fill out an online form or send a fax and Cash N Minutes says it will provide same-day service and will transfer a loan directly into your bank account.
So what's wrong with that? Plenty.
First, note the site provides no real contact information -- no physical address, no phone number. Their FAQ page says they are in the central time zone, but that covers a lot of flyover country. And the way e-mail works, this site could be in Wyoming, China or Romania.
Second, note terms of the loans aren't explained anywhere on the site, including the first page of the application forms. Surely it costs something to borrow $500, even if only for a few days? Tony the Shark down at the local pastaria probably charges at least 300 per.
Third, note the application forms ask for your Social Security number, and checking account number.
Would you give out this information to a stranger you meet on the street? That's basically what you would be doing here. At best (for them), you might get a loan at 1,000 percent interest. You get your hamburger today, but you gotta give 10 hamburgers back on Friday. At worst (for you, since as you may have guessed, there's no win scenario for you), you've just handed a complete stranger everything needed to steal your identity and loot your bank account. And theres no information to track him or her down. Did we mention this is the number one organic result in Google for a word search on "need cash"?
Fourth, the privacy policy doesn't exactly inspire a warm feeling: "All information transmitted, printed or otherwise submitted to Cash N Minutes.com via this web site shall be deemed to be the property of Cash N Minutes.com and shall be free to use such information for any lawful purpose as detailed herein."
But we understand, people are desperate these days. So let's take a little bit deeper look at this site. Surprisingly, it's not blind-registered. The domain owner is:
Capital Investing Specialists (support@CASHNMINUTES.COM)
+1.7196320651
Fax: 1
2409 Paseo Rd
Colorado Springs, CO 80907 US
But before your faith in humanity is restored, you'll be happy to know that phone number is disconnected (not like anyone pressures domain registrars to keep registrant information accurate and current, right?) 2409 Paseo Rd. in Colorado Springs is someone's house (actually, a 2-bedroom, one-bath condo worth about $115K in today's market).
Take a look here for some postings by people who say Cashnminutes plays nasty when you don't pay back on time. Here's a similar story. And if you need to know more, they have an F rating with their local Better Business Bureau.