5 Red Flags to Spot a Hard Money Loan Scam

Loan scams are a big problem in hard money loans, so it’s important to know the red flags to identify a loan scam. The most common loan scam is a fee scam, also called an upfront fee scam.

Because real lenders also charge upfront fees in order to protect their time, how do you spot the scam artists?

In the upfront fee scam, the lender will require an upfront fee to be paid, prior to funding the loan. These upfront fees can be called a variety of things, including legal and administrative fees, due diligence fees, or underwriting fees.

Here are 5 red flags to know if you are about to be a victim of an upfront fee scam:

1. Overseas lender that lends in the U.S.A.
2. Lender claims to be located in the U.S.A. but is actually located overseas.
3. No requirements for loan approval.
4. Do the terms seem too good to be true?
5. A fancy office does not mean a lender is legitimate. 

Read our related post: Top four scams in hard money to watch out for

About the author

Corey Curwick Dutton, MBA Park City, Utah - 2005 MBA Graduate with 10 years experience in Business Management including International Management. Corey is a Private Money Lender and Loan Officer. In her spare time Corey enjoys writing on topics in the private money lending industry. She also enjoys hobbies such as mountain biking and skiing in the great outdoors of Utah.