Niiwin, LLC dba Lendgreen

Tribal Payday Lender
Posted: July 8, 2014

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) has received a complaint against Niiwin, LLC dba Lendgreen (Lendgreen). It appears that Lendgreen is operating as a tribal online payday lender. Lendgreen claims to be owned by the Lac du Flambeau Band of Lake Superior Chippewa Indians, a federally recognized Indian tribe exercising its sovereign immunity. It asserts that it is subject to regulation by only the United States Government.

Lendgreen is not licensed by DFI. Lendgreen is not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State. Washington State residents are advised that state law provides in RCW 31.45.105(1)(d) and (3) that a small loan made by an unlicensed entity to a person physically located in Washington is uncollectible and unenforceable in Washington State.

Lendgreen operates a website at http://www.lendgreen.com and lists its phone number as 855-832-7227. The address that has been associated with this entity is:

Niiwin, LLC d/b/a Lendgreen
PO Box 221
Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538

If you have a complaint against Lendgreen, you can mail it to:

LDF Business Development Corporation
PO Box 67
Lac du Flambeau, WI 54538

Verify Licenses

DFI strongly recommends that consumers deal only with those lenders that are properly licensed to conduct business. Consumers can determine whether lenders are properly licensed using the “Verify a License” feature on DFI’s website at www.dfi.wa.gov/consumers/findcompany.htm.

Payday Loan Debt Collection Laws

Collection activities are subject to the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Therefore, if you have questions regarding debt collection laws please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 382-4357 (1-877-FTC HELP), or online at www.ftc.gov.

Report Fraud

Washington State residents, if you are suspicious of unlicensed activity by a lender please contact the Washington State Department of Financial Institutions at 1-877-RING-DFI (746-4334), or online atwww.dfi.wa.gov.

If you live in another state, find your state regulator.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or online at www.ftc.gov; or contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855) 411-CFPB or online at www.consumerfinance.gov. Because the scammers have access to bank account information and social security numbers, victims should consider themselves victims of identity theft and take appropriate precautions. The Federal Trade Commission has information for victims of identity theft available online at www.ftc.gov.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam involving the Internet please contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online at www.ic3.gov.

If you feel you have been the victim of a loan scam and are concerned about your personal financial information, contact your banking institution, and the three major credit bureaus.