Westchester Real Estate Talk

By Deborah Ball, RE/MAX Times Associate Editor

CONSUMERS, BEWARE: Bogus ads touting advance fee loans like this one have appeared in some local U.S. newspapers from a fake company called "Remax Financial." It is not affiliated with RE/MAX International or RE/MAX brokerages.

A fake company is using the RE/MAX name to scam consumers for loans - and RE/MAX International asks you to be on the alert for suspicious activity.

The purported company,"Remax Financial," has been advertising advance fee loans in local newspapers in Illinois, Iowa, Georgia and other states since December.

RE/MAX International sued "Remax Financial," which is not in any way affiliated with RE/MAX International or any of its real estate brokerages, for trademark infringement and dilution, unfair competition and cybersquatting, in a complaint filed in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois in February.

In its ads, "Remax Financial" directed borrowers to a toll-free phone number, (866) 398-3670. After RE/MAX International contacted the company responsible for leasing the number, it was briefly disconnected, but has since been reactivated. No one answers the line, but a voice message thanks callers for contacting RE/MAX and requests that they leave a message.

"Remax Financial" also operated a Web site - remaxf.com - to advertise its illegal loan services.

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