OfflineI have been getting allot of emails lately from lending companies in the UK. Says they will put up money for 3-4% after sale. Don't know if these are legit or scams. Googled 1 called Ocean Finance. Website came up but that doesnt mean its legit. Here's what the emails said:
1. (OCEAN FINANCE HOMES) Greetings to you, I Am Tom Hooks from Ocean Finance Homes LoanCompany,we are a private moneylender located in UK and geared by the I.M.F.We Are Currently Offering Private,Commercial and Personal Loans with very Minimal annual Interest rates as Low as 3% within a 1year to 50years.Repayment duration period to any part of the world. We give outloans within the minimum range $10,000 to the maximum of $1,000,000.00U.S.D.Our loans are well insured for maximum security and service is our priority.Contact us on our Email to apply today. Thanks, Tom Hooks (Managing Director)
2. Mrs. Shirley Loan Investment. is a private financial investment specializing in offering
Loans of various types to help individuals and organization reach financial objectives.
We customize structured financial solutions for a select group of clientele and
investors. Our commitment to client service and our innovative approach to problem
solving. We offer Loans to at 3.5% interest rate per annum. The Minimum amount you can
borrow is $5,000.00 US Dollars to Maximum of $50.Million.E-mails:
Has anyone dealt with lenders from another country?
I would safely say both are scams. I highly doubt they are handling applications via email.
I CANNOT stress this enough to EVERYONE reading this. ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS do your DUE DILLEGIENCE.
This is when doing a deal, working with a lender, a realtor, anyone, for any reason.
In this case I would ask for land lines. Then google those numbers. Then call the number and ask the questions on the spot, such as:
Who is the CEO?
How long have you been in business?
What is your mailing address?
I mean, just see if the person has the answers. Call the listed number on the corporate website, phone book or business records and ask if that person works there.
These types of schemes (when they are schemes) are geared at:
Getting your personal info for identify theft
Getting you to write a check or otherwise pay for something up front (maybe cheap closing costs or processing fees) for a phantom service/company, never to be heard from again.
Getting your banking/account information.
Getting you into a bad deal through misleading or fraudulent practices that are hard to defend against.
Be suspect of a UK lender trying deal with you one on one. The UK is known as a center for ****n fraud experts to operate from. The ****n fraud syndicates are some of the best at what they do, and not just because they are well known for those cheesy email chain letters promising a million dollars to "rescue"/transfer their money.
Always keep in mind that random, faceless people on the Internet can be someone other than they represent and to always take steps to verify the legitimacy of the person you are dealing with.
In the big picture, such problems are likely rare, but they can and do occur - and as always, better safe than sorry.