8 people lose $19K to company using false Miamisburg addresses, BBB says

DAYTON — The Better Business Bureau said it has received eight complaints in the past three weeks about an advance-fee loan company claiming to operate out of Miamisburg.

The BBB said East Guardian Equity allegedly offered to loan consumers money for advance fees, ranging from $842 to $8,491. They were told to wire the money via Western Union to nations such as Jamaica and Canada.

Frequently, those called were told the loan wouldn’t be approved without payment of additional fees, the BBB said.

The eight people who complained lost a combined $19,000. They live in Wisconsin, New York, Colorado, New Jersey, Louisiana, California and Virginia.

The BBB claims East Guardian fraudulently used two Miamisburg addresses: 2490 Technical Drive, the address of another business, and 603 N. Main St., which doesn’t exist.

Phone numbers for the company, supplied by consumers, appear to be out of service, said Terene Chatfield, the BBB’s director of administrative solutions. The Dayton Daily News also tried unsuccessfully to reach East Guardian Equity by phone.

The BBB said East Guardian has an F rating, its lowest for companies, because of:

• Concerns with the industry in which the business operates.

• Serious complaints filed against the company.

• Insufficient information on the business and how long it’s been operating.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-7457 or bsutherly@DaytonDailyNews.com.

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