Search Loan Scam Emails
These scams are not very sophisticated but to the many victims have been very believable. They typically start off with an email asking if you would like a loan and they may offer a ridiculously low interest rate. Sometimes they will ask you for your personal information right away, such as address, birth date, occupation, marital status and such.
When they think that they have you interested, some even provide an official looking contract while others skip that part all together and get right to the fees. The fees usually range from double digits to a few hundred depending on the scammer. They will, like in all the other scams, insist that you send them fees for loan insurance or filing fees before they can give you the loan. They will have you send the money through Western Union or Moneygram, usually to Africa.
In my own experience, I have found most of the loan scammers to be very unsophisticated, rude, intimidating and at times vulgar. I can see how victims, desperate for a loan, could be scared into sending the money in order to receive the loan. It is horrible the way the loan scams are run. Sadly, it's one of the most common scams I see in my inbox everyday.
The best way you can protect yourself from scams like these is to:
1) Steer clear of emails that sound suspicious or are too good to be true
2) Do an internet search for the email address the sender is using. Many times it will more than likely appear on sites that report scams
3) NEVER give your bank details to someone you don't know, especially if you "met" them through uninvited emails and especially if they ask you to email your information to them. Legitimate companies, banks, lawyers and other professionals would NEVER do this.
4) NEVER send money to someone you don't know, especially if they ask you to send the money to another person in another country (Africa should sound the alarm!) Legitimate companies, banks, lawyers and other professionals would NEVER do this. Legitimate companies will also NEVER have you send money to an individual's name through Western Union, Moneygram or any other money sending service, even if they are in the same country.