HOUSTON – The Federal Trade Commission is warning small business owners about the latest COVID-19 scam. With a new round of Payroll Protection Program loans now available, scammers are impersonating Small Business Administration employees, calling owners to trick them into giving up information. The FTC says real lenders will never call you and solicit you for a loan you haven’t even applied for. The feds say these are likely phishing attempts from criminals who could illegally apply for loans using your information. You should also never fill out loan applications online from lenders you don’t know to be legitimate.

HOUSTON – Since reports surfaced that Joel and Victoria Osteen’s Lakewood Church received $4.4 million in Payroll Protection Program loans, the Osteens have responded through Lakewood representatives, saying that it initially did not accept help. A screenshot from the Lakewood Church Facebook announcement that it will reopen for the first time since the start of the pandemic. Believing the shutdown would only last a few weeks, Lakewood did not initially accept PPP assistance during the first half of the program. It is important to note that, since 2004, Pastors Joel and Victoria Osteen have not received salaries from Lakewood Church, and the PPP funds do not provide any personal financial benefit to them, whatsoever. Donald IloffThe exterior of Lakewood Church in Houston is seen in this undated image.

HOUSTON – A Texas man has been charged with federal bank fraud and making false statements to a financial institution in the Southern District of Florida. Investigators said Uzoamaka Leonard Ohaebosim, 46, lied about his movie company’s payroll expenses and obtained $1.2 million in Paycheck Protection Program funds. The PPP program was designed for qualifying small businesses and other organizations to receive loans from the federal government to help with job retention and certain other expenses. A number of Americans have been caught trying to defraud the PPP program. While another Texan man is facing serious charges after fraudulently seeking $ million in COVID-19 relief funds.

It passed the House overwhelmingly last week on a 417-1 vote, but an attempt by top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer of New York to fast-track the bill through the Senate failed after Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., objected. Critics say the pending measure does nothing to ensure that businesses that dont necessarily need PPP subsidies are ineligible, among other problems. If were going to potentially authorize more spending, that program needs to be reformed, Johnson told reporters. We dont have an unlimited checkbook.Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., supports the measure, as do most Republicans and Senate Democrats. Schumer suggested that Johnson and other Republicans try to fix any problems when Congress passes another COVID-19 relief bill.