# Scam Prevention

Commercial and business borrowers are targeted by loan scams, and lenders by fake borrowers. Everything Inc. is a marketplace, not a lender: we never approve loans, never ask for fees to release funds, and never ask for your passwords.

### Red flags for borrowers

- **Upfront fees to “guarantee”, “secure” or “release” a loan.** Legitimate costs (appraisal, legal, a deposit under a signed term sheet) are documented, paid to identifiable companies and explained before you pay. Wire, crypto or gift-card requests are a stop sign.

- **Approval without underwriting.** “Guaranteed approval” or a commitment before anyone has reviewed financials is not how commercial lending works.

- **Pressure and secrecy.** “Pay today or lose the rate”, or requests to move to a private messaging app immediately.

- **Identity mismatch.** Email domains that do not match the company, no verifiable address or phone, names that do not appear in state business or licensing records (for example NMLS Consumer Access, your state financial regulator, or the Secretary of State).

- **Requests for sensitive data too early.** Do not send Social Security numbers, bank logins or ID images through marketplace messages.

### Red flags for lenders

- Borrowers who will not get on a call, whose documents show signs of editing, or whose entity cannot be found in public records.

- Requests to pay third-party “processing” or “insurance” fees on the borrower’s behalf, or overpayment-and-refund schemes.

- Inconsistent stories about ownership, property control or use of proceeds.

### Good practice

- Verify the company independently: call a number you found yourself, not one in the message.

- Get fee agreements and term sheets in writing and have counsel review them.

- Use an attorney, title or escrow company for closing funds, and confirm wire instructions by phone.

- Keep early conversations on the platform so there is a record.

### Report it

Tell us at support@lendermatrix.com or through the [contact page](https://lendermatrix.com/contact/) so we can review the account. You can also report fraud to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center at ic3.gov, and your state attorney general or financial regulator. If you sent money, contact your bank immediately.

Everything Inc. does not verify users or listings and cannot guarantee that any user is legitimate. This page is general information, not legal advice.

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Source: https://lendermatrix.com/scam-prevention/
LenderMatrix is a marketplace, not a lender. Program information is supplied by lenders and can change. A potential match is not an approval or an offer of credit.