HARRISBURG, PA — Pennsylvania Attorney General Michelle Henry announced a settlement with GPGL Holdings, a lead generator based in Florida. The company allegedly misled consumers into high-interest auto title loans by using false addresses and fabricated reviews, pushing borrowers toward Community Loans of America (CLA).
This settlement is part of a broader initiative by the Attorney General’s Office to protect consumers from exploitative lending practices, particularly those targeting individuals facing financial distress. Earlier this year, a substantial $5.9 million settlement was reached with CLA, operating as Delaware Title Loans, for issuing loans with interest rates exceeding 300 percent—far above Pennsylvania’s legal interest cap.
Under the current agreement, GPGL, known as Fast Money Car Title Loans, is required to return $34,844 received from CLA to fund consumer restitution. Additionally, the company will pay a $10,000 civil penalty. Attorney General Henry emphasized the office’s zero-tolerance policy for deceptive tactics, stating, “Out-of-state car title lenders and their affiliates should be on notice that my office will not tolerate deceptive practices to dupe Pennsylvanians into loans with exorbitant rates.”
The deceptive practices involved GPGL creating fake business locations on Google Maps and posting fraudulent customer reviews to attract borrowers. These misleading strategies directed consumers to fill out forms or call numbers that eventually led to CLA through Tradition Media Group, LLC, which sold the leads.
CLA, a national entity involved in car title lending, was identified as having issued numerous unlawful loans to Pennsylvania residents. As part of a previous settlement, CLA agreed to reimburse affected consumers and ceased collecting payments, resulting in over $3.7 million in debt cancellation for Pennsylvanians.
Title loans, which require borrowers to use vehicle titles as collateral for high-cost loans, are often sought by individuals in desperate financial situations, such as those experiencing unemployment or significant medical expenses. However, such loans typically violate Pennsylvania’s usury and racketeering laws due to their excessive interest rates, which exceed the state’s 25 percent annual limit.
The Attorney General’s efforts have secured over $4.4 million in restitution and more than $8 million in debt relief for consumers harmed by out-of-state title lenders. The office continues to urge consumers who suspect they have been victims of similar lending abuses to file complaints or reach out for assistance.
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