Pressure-test an offer before you act on it
Answer a few questions about an offer or the company behind it to surface the warning signs of a scam or a predatory loan before you hand over anything.
How this check works
Answer a few yes/no questions about an offer or the company behind it — whether you were asked for a fee up front, whether you were pressured, whether you can find the lender’s name and license, whether approval was promised before any review. The check adds up the warning signs you reported and tells you how worried to be, plus the official places to verify or report.
What it’s looking for
The biggest red flag is a demand to pay a fee — by gift card, wire or crypto — to “release” or “insure” a loan. Legitimate lenders take fees out of the loan or bill them later; an upfront payment to get a loan is the signature of an advance-fee scam. The check also weighs pressure tactics, missing licensing, and promises no honest lender can make.
What to do with the result
A high score doesn’t prove fraud, and a low one doesn’t prove safety — it’s a prompt to slow down and verify. The check links you to the FTC and CFPB to confirm a lender and to report anything that crossed the line.
What it can’t tell you
- Whether a specific company is legitimate — only your own verification with regulators can.
- Whether an offer is a good deal; that’s what the comparison worksheet is for.
- Anything about parties you haven’t described. It only weighs what you enter.