Advance Fee Loan Scams: Don't Fall Victim to This False Promise

Unbiased financial information provided by Financial Finesse

 Advance-Fee loan scams target individuals with no credit, bad credit, or a history of bankruptcy.You've heard it at least a million times: If something sounds too good to be true, it usually is. But sometimes it's easy to forget this basic principle, especially if you have been turned down by other lenders and still need to borrow money. Advance-Fee loan scams target individuals with no credit, bad credit, or a history of bankruptcy.

 The ads for these loans guarantee that you'll get the loan or credit card you want, regardless of your credit history, but you must pay a fee before you apply. The fee can range from $100 to several hundred dollars. After you have paid the fee, the lender disappears with your cash, and you never get the loan or credit card you thought you applied for in the first place.

Protect Yourself

Before you respond to ads that promise easy credit, regardless of your credit history, keep these tips from the Federal Trade Commission in mind:

 Legitimate, guaranteed offers of credit do not require payments up front.Legitimate, guaranteed offers of credit do not require payments up front.
Legitimate lenders never "guarantee" or say that you are likely to get a loan or a credit card before you apply, especially if you have less than perfect credit.

 If you apply for a real estate loan, it is accepted and common practice for lenders to request that you pay the fees for a credit report and/or a professional appraisal. However, legitimate lenders never ask you to pay for processing your application.

 Never give your credit card account number, bank account information, credit union account information, or Social Security number over the telephone or Internet unless you are familiar with the company and know why the information is necessary.

Pre-approval and Pre-qualification offers are legitimate

Most mortgage lenders offer loan pre-approval to expedite the home purchase process. A pre-approved loan requires only your verbal or written acceptance -- but not for a fee.

 A pre-qualified offer means you've been selected to apply for a loan, based on your creditworthiness. However, you still must go through the normal application process and you still can be turned down, but there is no fee associated with these offers.

  Most credit card and loan solicitations you receive through the mail fall into this category. You have to read the fine print on these offers to see what rate you could get if you do not meet the criteria for the best rate (which is usually the one printed in large type on the front of the envelope).

 When you are looking to borrow, remember that your credit history will always be one of the most important factors in a lender's decision, regardless of how much you would be willing to pay them to give you the loan.