>>> A LOCAL WOMAN GOT A LETTER
SAYING SHE COULD SAVE MONEY BY
PAYING OFF HER SMALL BUSINESS
LOAN.
>> Reporter: BILLIONS OF DOLLARS
WERE HANDED OUT ACROSS THE
COUNTRY TO HELP PEOPLE DURING
THIS PANDEMIC.
WITH ALL THAT MONEY AND ALL
THOSE PEOPLE, MISTAKES WERE
BOUND TO HAPPEN.
BUT STRAIGHTENING OUT THOSE
PROBLEMS ISN’T ALWAYS EASY.
WHEN THE BUSINESS DOORS ARE
LOCKED, THE OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE
MONEY FOR MANY PEOPLE.
BUT THE CARES ACT FREED UP
FEDERAL DOLLARS TO HELP SMALL
BUSINESSES IN THE FORM OF SMALL
BUSINESS LOANS.
>> YEAH.
IF THEY WANT TO TELL ME WHERE
THAT MONEY IS, I’LL GO GET IT
AND HAND IT BACK TO THEM.
>> Reporter: LAURA RUSSELL KNOWS
ABOUT THOSE LOANS, BUT NOT
BECAUSE SHE GOT ONE.
>> SO I RECEIVED A BILLING
NOTICE IN THE MAIL.
>> Reporter: THE LETTER SAID
LAURA COULD START PAYING OFF HER
$9,800 SMALL BUSINESS LOAN NOW
TO AVOID PAYING INTEREST ON THE
MONEY.
THAT SEEMED STRANGE TO LAURA.
>> SINCE I DON’T HAVE A SMALL
BUSINESS, I NEVER APPLIED FOR A
LOAN, AND I NEVER RECEIVED THAT
$9,800.
I WAS PERPLEXED.
>> Reporter: WAS THE LETTER A
SCAM?
DID A HACKER TAKE OUT A LOAN IN
LAURA’S NAME?
SHE GOT ON THE PHONE TO THE
SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION,
BUT THEY WEREN’T MUCH HELP.
>> WHEN I ASKED THEM IF THEY
WERE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES AND THEY
NEVER GAVE ME A STRAIGHT ANSWER
ABOUT THAT.
BUT, AGAIN, IT’S JUST HARD TO
TELL.
>> Reporter: LAURA KNEW SHE
DIDN’T APPLY FOR THE LOAN OR GET
THE MONEY.
BUT THAT WASN’T MUCH COMFORT.
>> I WAS LIKE, WHAT ABOUT MY
CREDIT SCORE.
>> Reporter: HOW DO I PROVE I
NEVER GOT THE MONEY, TT SORT
OF THING?
>> Reporter: AGAIN, THE LETTER
LOOKED OFFICIALS.
IT INCLUDED COUPONS FOR MAKING A
PAYMENT.
BUT THIS CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER
COULDN’T GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER.
>> ONCE I HAVE CLARITY, I WILL
KNOW HOW TO PROCEED, BUT AT THIS
POINT I DON’T KNOW.
>> Reporter: SO WE REACHED OUT
TO THE SMALL BUSINESS
ADMINISTRATION AND COB NEXTNNECT
TWO.
WHILE THERE ARE STILL FOR
QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS, THE FDA
HAS STARTED AN INVESTIGATION.
>> JUST TO HAVE THAT ASSISTANCE
IS A GREAT HELP TO ME, SO THANK
YOU SO MUCH.
>> Reporter: NOW, LAURA COULD
HAVE THROWN AWAY THAT ORIGINAL
LETTER.
AFTER ALL, SHE DID NOT TAKE OUT
A LOAN.
BUT THESE DAYS, IT IS WISE TO
LOOK OVER YOUR MAIL BEFORE
TOSSING IT OUT.
FOR NBC 7 RESPONDS, I’M CONSUMER
BOB.
BACK TO YOU.
>>> CONSUMER BOB SAYS THIS YEAR