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Most people fall for loan scams when they are desperate for funds and are on the lookout for legitimate lenders. In 2020, 2.2 million incidents of loan fraud were reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

What are loan scams?

It is a loan scam when an individual or a company posing to be a lender doesn’t deliver the loan after obtaining all your financial information.

What are the different types of loan scams?

When scammers offer financial aid, they try to take advantage of the consumer’s most significant economic need and vulnerability. Student loans, mortgages, and debt consolidation are three prevalent types of loan fraud.

Student loans: This loan involves students taking loans from the central government or a private lender to pay for educational expenses such as materials, books, and living costs. Significant government loans often feature cheaper interest rates and more flexible repayment choices than private lenders.
Mortgages: Mortgage scammers frequently use freely released eviction notices to locate people in trouble financially. Scammers may persuade homeowners that they would be able to stay in their homes and even start again. The next step is a bait-and-switch, which may include signing loan-like documents. The issue is that the person is genuinely relinquishing ownership of the home. Other foreclosure scams may require you to pay fees for counseling or auditing, but no meaningful assistance is provided.
Debt consolidation: A personal loan scam is a means for con artists to gain your Social Security number or charge you fees without actually lending you money. Some of the most prevalent personal loan scams entail con artists obtaining your personal information or finances by proposing a loan with no credit check. Others make unwanted loan offers and then vanish after collecting upfront fees or proof.

Warning signs of loan scams

Too enticing to be true

This is a general thing to look out for when looking for loans. For example, suppose a lender claims an assured approval for a quick loan, has positive ratings on their website, doesn’t care about terrible credit, or offers no credit check. In that case, you should do a lot of research before agreeing to anything.

This could include the method used for contacting you. For example, banks frequently send you offer letters through the mail. However, if it’s a bank you’ve never heard of that’s randomly contacting you with a bargain that seems too tempting, proceed with caution.

There are no problems if you have a negative credit score.

Loan scams frequently use pre-approvals, assured approvals, or no credit checks. Be wary of lenders who make such promises without reviewing your credit history first. Scams involving assured clearances or no credit checks are feasible. A lender requires underwriting to assess and price a loan effectively. It’s a red flag if they’re not doing it.

Upfront fees

The loan should reimburse any expenses incurred as a result of the loan. Walk away if you have to pay up with the funds out of your pocket. These payments are commonly referred to as “application fees” or “processing fees.” On the other hand, these fees are far from accurate, and they often need you to do things that may appear strange, such as purchasing a prepaid card.

Legitimate loan lenders impose a fee up in advance. It’s known as an origination charge, which is standard and is deducted from your loan proceeds. Advance-fee loans, on the other hand, are not legal. You should never give somebody money out of your wallet unless you have been authorized.

Pressurization

If a lender puts any pressure on you, don’t give in. Legitimate lenders do not put you under any pressure. Make sure you’re not feeling rushed to make a decision or give critical information like your bank account information, SSN, or credit or debit card information.

Summary

Losing money or assets to scams can be painful, so knowing how to distinguish between scammers and a lender you can trust is crucial. Knowing how to recognize typical loan scams can help you avoid identity theft, secure your personal information, and save your hard-earned cash.

Are you considering whether to make property investing a part of your portfolio? This is a choice that can bring you plenty of advantages. The economic growth that you can experience from investing is not to be scoffed at. There are a few things that you will need to consider before you make your final choice. Here are 5 of them.

1. You’ll Need to Have Legal Representation
The first thing you will need to keep in mind when deciding to invest in real estate is that you will need to have expert legal representation. Issues such as litigation over a Delaware statutory trust are extremely complex. If your legal knowledge as a layman and first-time investor isn’t up to par, you will definitely need a lawyer to sort it out for you.

2. You Need to Know the Area
The second thing to consider is that you need to have at least a working knowledge of the area you will be investing in. A solid investment involves much more than just the property you may be buying. In addition to the actual property, you need to know about the area it is located in. What are home and commercial values like in this area?

Knowing whether property values are on the upswing or in a deep decline is crucial. An investment that is being sold at a discount beyond the normal run of things should ring alarm bells. Are other commercial investors pulling out of the area due to it being undesirable? The more you know about an area, the better your decision will be.

3. You Need to Know Your Financial Limits
The next thing you need to know when considering yourinvestment options is the limit of your financial viability. The last thing that you want to do is get in over your head. This is an area where a huge number of hidden charges and surprise fees can suddenly come to the forefront. You need to have a realistic idea of what you are getting into.

The income that you generate will help to determine what type of properties you can buy. It will also fix a solid limit to the number of properties that you can invest in. You may be able to use loans to extend this final figure. But it’s a very good idea to invest wisely and well within the limits of your present budget.

4. You Need to Know Your Investment Options
You may be able to invest in a great many more types of properties than you presently realize. You may already have ruled out several types of investments simply because you can’t see yourself living in them or profiting from owning them. But this is a major mistake. You may be turning your back on a very lucrative opportunity.

Sometimes you may turn up your nose at a particular property because the area around it is undeveloped at present. You may also choose to say no to investment because the property itself is in desperate need of repair. This may be a mistake because, once the repairs are made, the value of the property may double or triple.

5. You Need to Form Long Term Plans
The last thing you will need to consider is what your long-term plans for property investment will amount to. Do you want to keep investing in the same type of property or branch out into a wide variety of other options?

Some people prefer to stick with the type of investment that they are most familiar with. Others who are less conservative may prefer to experiment. It’s up to you to devise your own strategy.

Investing is a Life-Long Process
Investing in any kind of real estate can be a short or long-term affair. You may be investing to renovate the property, flip it, and make a quick buck. However, the process of investing can prove to be a lifelong occupation. It’s a good idea for you to be fully acquainted with the process before you engage in it.