We have received reports of a scam circulating where people are receiving phone calls, text messages, and emails from individuals claiming to work for CashLady.
If someone claiming to be from CashLady has contacted you to offer you a loan, this is a scam.
- CashLady will never call you.
- CashLady will never ask you to send us any money, gift cards, or voucher codes.
- CashLady will never ask you to pay an ‘insurance charge’ to ‘release a loan’.
We have informed the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) of this scam.
You can read the FCA’s warning here.
What we know
We have been made aware of a scam where criminals are using the CashLady brand name and logo to gain the trust of victims. This is known as a ‘clone firm’ scam.
The scammers have contacted people by email, text, WhatsApp, and by telephone.
Is CashLady legitimate?
Yes, CashLady is a legitimate company. We are a trading name of Digitonomy Limited, who are authorised and regulated by the FCA.
CashLady is a credit broker, not a lender. We do not issue or approve loans.
If you’re contacted by someone claiming to be from CashLady, and are offered a loan or asked to send money for ‘insurance’ or to ‘release funds’, you can be sure that this is a scam.
Important points to remember
- The CashLady application form is entirely online; we will never contact you to complete an application over the phone. We do not have a call centre.
- Searching for a loan with CashLady is completely free; we do not charge any fees for our service.
How can I tell the difference between a genuine CashLady email and a scam email?
Any authentic communication sent from CashLady will come from one of the following email addresses:
- hello@marketing.cashlady.com
- hello@email.cashlady.com
- hello@servicing.cashlady.com
How to protect yourself from a loan scam
- Visit the official website of the company. Do not click on any links in any emails but use your search engine to find their website. Message the company using the contact information as it appears on their website and ask if they have contacted you. You may be asked to send information or screenshots of the communication you’ve received, so be sure to have this to hand. You can contact CashLady here.
- Pay attention to the email address that you have been contacted from. Companies who are authorised and regulated by the FCA are highly unlikely to use a Hotmail, Gmail, or Outlook email address.
Criminals may also closely mimic existing email addresses from legitimate accounts, and the differences can be very hard to spot at first glance. For example, a scammer may use a CashLady email address but swap the letter ‘a’ for a number ‘4.’
If you’re not sure about an email, check the address, and check it again. The same goes for any website addresses. - There are similar things you can do to check any messages sent via WhatsApp. While criminals can be very savvy, others may not be as thorough. Check the profile photo and status of the person who has reached out to you. If their profile photo shows something personal, such as a selfie or an image of a car, they are highly unlikely to be from a genuine company.
- Keep an eye on spelling and grammar. Communication that’s littered with spelling mistakes could signal a potential scam.
- On the other hand, you should be aware that scams aren’t always full of grammatical errors and spelling mistakes. A recent email that was brought to our attention was later confirmed to have been put together entirely by artificial intelligence (AI). If you’d like to check whether an email you’ve received is AI generated, Grammarly have a tool you can use for free here.
- Scammers may try to put pressure on their victims by using phrases such as ‘one-time offer’ or ‘hurry, exclusive deal ends today.’
They may also try to entice you by promising things like an unusually low interest rate or a no credit check loan.*
A loan is a serious financial commitment, and legitimate, responsible brokers and lenders will encourage you to take your time in making a decision. - As well as putting pressure on you, scammers may also use a different tactic and try to soothe your concerns. They may say things like, ‘you have absolutely nothing to worry about’ or ‘your loan is 100% guaranteed’. This can, of course, make you question yourself, but it’s very important to listen to your gut instinct. If something doesn’t feel right, you should take a step back.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for proof of authenticity. If you’re dealing with a representative from a genuine company, they will be more than happy to prove that they’re really who they say they are.
If you suspect that you’re speaking with a scammer, do not challenge them. Hang up the phone or delete the email. If the scammer becomes abusive or threatening, end the communication immediately. Nobody has any right to make you feel intimidated or frightened, and this is certainly not how a genuine company will talk to you. - A scammer may request payment for a loan in a way that seems unusual, such as in the form of gift cards or vouchers.
- If they’re not posing as an already-established, legitimate company, scammers may approach you using a made-up company name. You can check to see whether a company or individual appears on the FCA register here.
- Be wary of sharing your bank details with a company. If in any doubt whatsoever, end the communication, do your research, carry out some further checks, and if you’re happy, call back on the number which appears on their authentic website.
*It’s worth noting that ‘no credit check loans’ do not exist; all responsible lenders in the UK must carry out an affordability check on anyone who applies for credit. This could be either a hard search or through Open Banking. A company or individual offering ‘no credit check’ loans is not working in-line with FCA guidelines.
Will a lender ask for a fee to release a loan?
If you’ve been approved for a loan, some legitimate lenders may ask for a fee before your money is sent, but they must first send you a notice saying that this is what they intend to do. The notice should include details of how much money you need to pay; how and when the payment will be taken; and the name of the company exactly as it appears on the Financial Conduct Authority register.
What to do if you think you may have been scammed
The first thing to remember is that this is NOT your fault, and you have NOTHING to be ashamed of. It can be easy to blame yourself, but scammers are professional criminals, and they are very good at what they do. Any of us could fall victim to a scam at any time. In fact, Citizens Advice estimates that 9 million people in the UK were a victim of a financial scam in 2024. You’re not alone, and you shouldn’t feel any shame whatsoever in reporting the crime and asking for help.
If you’ve shared your financial information, such as your PIN, password(s) or card number, with someone who you believe could be a scammer, you should contact your bank or credit card provider without delay.
They will have a designated fraud team who will take steps to protect your account. This could include issuing you a new credit or debit card or temporarily freezing your account.
Reporting a loan scam
You should report a loan scam to Action Fraud. You can file a report as an individual, business, witness, or on behalf of a victim.
You can also make a report directly with the FCA.
Reporting a scam could help prevent this from happening to somebody else in the future.
Important: if you feel in immediate danger or are being threatened by the scammer, you should call the police. Remember, you haven’t done anything wrong, and you will not get into any trouble.
In need of financial support? Help is available
At some point in our lives, many of us will find ourselves in a position where we may need a little financial help.
Talking about money can feel uncomfortable, but please know that reaching out can be the first step towards getting back on your feet and taking control of your finances.
Please know that you can access free, confidential money and debt management advice through charities and organisations such as StepChange, MoneyHelper, Citizens Advice, and National Debtline.