Loan fraud is the illicit acquisition of a loan through a criminal's unauthorized use of someone's personal information. A fraudster opens a mortgage or takes out a reverse mortgage in your name, burdening you with repayments. This form of malicious activity not only threatens your financial stability but also ranks as the fourth most common type of identity theft, according to 2020 statistics. Scammers can obtain your data through various methods, including malware, phishing scams, and buying account details on the Dark Web. Since many loan companies only ask for basic information during application, identity thieves can easily obtain critical information, like your bank account details or Social Security number. Even more alarming is how carefully loan fraud operates; it frequently goes unnoticed for a long amount of time, giving fraudsters plenty of opportunity to ruin your credit.
Anywhere you borrow money or increase your credit, loan fraud is possible, from obtaining business loans to mortgages.
What are the types of Loan Fraud?
Mortgage Loan Fraud
Mortgage fraud is the intentional act of providing false information or concealing material details to obtain, acquire, or insure a mortgage loan. It's a deceptive practice that extends beyond borrowers, as mortgage lenders can also be involved in this dishonest behavior in mortgage fraud cases.
There are two types of mortgage fraud:
- Fraud for Profit: This category is often perpetrated by industry insiders, such as bank officers, appraisers, and mortgage bankers. These individuals leverage their knowledge of the mortgage lending process to engage in fraudulent activities, aiming to unlawfully acquire cash and equity from lenders or homeowners.
- Fraud for Property: Borrowers typically commit this type of fraud to gain or retain property ownership. For instance, a home buyer might falsify information, like income or assets, on a mortgage loan application to secure an illicit loan approval or more favorable loan terms.
First-Party Fraud
Within the domain of First-Party Fraud, also called Personal Loan Fraud, applicants willfully provide fraudulent information or inflate their financial standing to obtain credit that exceeds their normal eligibility.
Second-Party Loan Fraud
Second-Party Loan Fraud is the act of willingly sharing personal information with another individual, often a family member or friend, for the explicit purpose of engaging in fraudulent activities. In certain instances, the individual whose information is being used might be unaware of the dishonest lending program. This type of fraud is hard to detect because the information given usually looks genuine, and there aren't any obvious indications that it's illegal.
Third-Party Loan Fraud
Third-party loan Fraud is the deceptive practice wherein an individual, commonly recognized as identity theft, employs a fabricated or someone else's identity without consent to secure credit, with no intention of repayment. This is also known as identity theft. Synthetic identities are frequently used in this kind of fraud, where the criminal creates a new identity by combining information that has been stolen and information that has been made up. They subsequently verify this fraudulent identity by taking out small loans and paying them back on time, thereby exaggerating their credit score. Thanks to this well-planned strategy, they can use their inflated credit score to obtain larger amounts of money and disappear from vision.
Loan Stacking
Loan Stacking is when a single borrower submits applications for multiple loans in a brief timeframe, devoid of any intention to repay. Financial institutions may find it difficult to identify the person applying for multiple loans quickly because new accounts and credit inquiries can take up to 30 days to appear on a credit profile. This may result in delayed recognition until it becomes too late.
Business Loan Fraud
Business loan fraud is the act of providing false information to secure funding through small business loan programs, whether from private lenders such as banks or government agencies like the Small Business Administration (SBA). Even when the victim is not a business owner, identity thieves may utilize stolen identities to apply for loans. This dishonest practice includes fraudulent loan applications for disaster relief or investment funds.
How to prevent loan fraud?
Take proactive measures to safeguard yourself against loan fraud:
- Implement a Credit Freeze: Credit freezes or locks can stop fraudsters from opening false accounts or obtaining loans in your name.
- Recognize Phishing Warning Signs: Watch cautiously for phishing attempts that try to deceive you into clicking on harmful links by using emails or texts that seem urgent. To prevent falling for scams, slow your pace and check for generic greetings, typos, strange grammar, and suspicious URLs.
- Regularly Monitor Credit and Statements: Keep an eye out for scammers trying to deceive you by checking your banking records and credit reports regularly. Keep an eye out for indications of identity theft, like strange charges or unidentified accounts.
- Be cautious of Online Store Accounts: To reduce the possibility of hacking and data breaches, avoid keeping credit card or bank information on online store accounts.
How Can Sanction Scanner Help?
The advanced tools Sanction Scanner provides, such as Name Screening and Transaction Monitoring, are critical components in proactively preventing fraudulent loan activity. By continuously monitoring sanction lists from more than 220 nations, it uses sophisticated methods to spot and deter illegal activity. As a strong, adaptable barrier against the complex world of fraud, Sanction Scanner’s solutions are essential to bolster the financial system. Its services are available to both domestic and foreign institutions, offering a complete defense against the various threats posed by money laundering and other illegal financial activities. You can contact us or schedule a demo for more details on how Sanction Scanner can support your combat fighting frauds.
