Also Doing Business As:

• Gan Eden Group

The Washington State Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) warns consumers to verify that any lender from which they consider obtaining a payday loan doing business holds a Washington State license for providing payday loan services. Consumers are urged to verify license status prior to giving the financial institution, company, or individual any nonpublic personal information, such as social security number or bank account number or access. DFI has received complaints against WLCC Lending GEG d/b/a Gan Eden Group. It appears that this entity is operating as a tribal online payday lender. This entity claims to be a subsidiary of the Wakpamni Lake Community Corporation and chartered by the Oglala Sioux Tribe of the Pine Ridge Reservation, a federally recognized Indian Tribe.

Gan Eden Group operates a website at http://www.theganedengroup.com and lists its contact information as:

PO Box 71
#1 Wakpamni Lake Housing
Batesland, SD 57716
Phone: 1.855.888.0133

Gan Eden Group is not licensed by the Department. This entity is not registered to conduct business in Washington State by the Department of Licensing, the Department of Revenue, or the Secretary of State. Washington residents are advised that Washington 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. A “small loan” is defined in RCW 31.45.073 and does not exceed $700.

Verify Licenses

DFI strongly recommends that consumers deal only with companies or individuals that are properly licensed to conduct business. Consumers can determine whether an entity is properly licensed using the “Verify a License” feature on the DFI’s website atwww.dfi.wa.gov.

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 1-800-FTC-HELP or online at www.ftc.gov(link is external).

Report Fraud

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

If you feel you have been the victim of a scam please contact the Federal Trade Commission at 1-877-FTC-HELP (382-4357) or online at www.ftc.gov(link is external); or contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855) 411-CFPB (2372) or online atwww.consumerfinance.gov(link is external). If the scammers already have your bank account information, social security number, or other nonpublic information, you may be a victim of identity theft and you should take appropriate precautions. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has information for victims of identity theft available online at www.ftc.gov(link is external).

If you feel you have been the victim of a scam involving the internet please contact the Internet Crime Complaint Center online atwww.ic3.gov(link is external).

If you feel you have been the victim of a financial scam and are concerned about your personal financial information, contact your banking institution and the three major credit bureaus. Procedures for contacting the credit bureaus are available on the FTC’s website at www.ftc.gov(link is external).