NASCAR Cup Series
FTC investigates racer in alleged scam
NASCAR Cup Series

FTC investigates racer in alleged scam

Published Apr. 2, 2012 12:08 p.m. ET

A payday lending operation that offers quick cash over the Internet to desperate people, and the race-car driver allegedly running it, are under federal scrutiny after more than 7,000 complaints to authorities.

The Federal Trade Commission filed a complaint Monday in U.S. district court in Nevada against driver Scott Tucker, his brother and several Internet-based lending companies, including AMG Services, Inc.

Tucker has raced in the American Le Mans Series. The FTC charges that he and others controlled lending companies that piled on undisclosed and inflated fees - in some cases more than triple the amount borrowed - and then collected on the loans illegally by threatening borrowers with arrests and lawsuits.

In one example, a consumer was told that a $500 loan would cost him $650 to repay. Instead, the FTC says, the defendants attempted to charge him $1,925 to pay off the loan. The agency says he was threatened with arrest if he didn't pay that amount.

ADVERTISEMENT

Payday loans are typically small, short-term loans with extremely high interest rates that are effectively advances on a borrower's next paycheck.

According to the FTC, the payday lending operation involving Tucker has claimed in state legal proceedings that it is affiliated with Native American tribes and therefore immune from legal action. Tribal affiliation does not exempt Tucker and others from complying with federal law, the commission says.

Over the last five years, more than 7,500 complaints about the operation have been filed with law enforcement authorities.

Tucker and his brother, Blaine, are accused of transferring more than $40 million collected from payday loans to consumers to another company, Level 5 Motorsports, which is controlled by Scott Tucker. The FTC says the money was transferred as ''sponsorship'' fees for Tucker's racing career.

Tucker did not immediately respond to a request for comment to his office email.

share


Get more from NASCAR Cup Series Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic