The Texas Department of Banking (Department) has become aware of a fraudulent loan commitment letter that has the appearance of being sent from the Finance Commission of Texas.

The email forwarding the letter is purportedly sent from Mr. Richard Brown, CEO of Crestview Investment Company, Houston, Texas.

Also referenced in the email is Crestview Capital, LLC, Houston, Texas. The letter requests that a sum of money be remitted as a form of security deposit in order to release the proceeds of the “approved loan.” This letter is fraudulent. Neither the Department nor the Finance Commission offers credit or loans, nor do they solicit payment from the public for the approval of personal loans.

Recipients should consider this email as an attempt to collect personal or confidential information and to fraudulently obtain funds. Recipients of this email should notify the Department of any suspicious activity or any similar attempts to obtain personal financial information via email or by phone at 877-276-5554.