Hard Money Lender Scams

Hard Money Lender Scams

Member since 2019 · 45 posts · 19 votes

Hi there,

So, I am new to investing. In the past 6 weeks, I've been able to buy property from motivated sellers and sell it for a very large profit. AS a result, I applied for private funding with willie stevens with posh realty investors. I was able to be approved for $100,000 based on an executive summary, my drivers license, and copy of my utility bill. NO bank statements, or proof of my business financials were required. I got approved for 100k and he is offering me 5% interest rate. Pay back within 1 year. The paperwork looks legitimate. ITs 3 pages long that outlines the terms. It is going to cost me $3,900 which is an up-front loan processing fee.

Does this funding seem legitimate? I don't want to be scammed into someone getting me to wire them $3,900 to their bank account. What are other signs for private money scammers? 

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Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
7y
Originally posted by @Alexis Monroe:

Thanks for the feedback. I requested proof of lenders license and he emailed immediately.  He also sent me his drivers license. I also verified his company is registered with state. Could it still be a scam with this documentation? What are realistic terms for private lenders? 

this is standard response by Scammers and crooks..  NO LENDER sends U his or her drivers license that's just BS.. anyone can register a company for 50 bucks again just to win you over and give an air to legitimacy.  Lenders license photo shopped or just not real.. 

Go to NMLS registry google it its easy put his name and company name in if he is state licensed he should be registered and for fun put my name in and see what happens.. 

NO ONE lends for 5% period.. and NO one charges up front money other than Do hard money and they couch it as buying their how to flip property manuals.. so they are selling you something. in exchange for the up front 3k which is mandatory to get a loan from them.. and then the rates are what they are.

standard rates for hard money is 2 and 10 for great borrower and experience to 5 and 15 for someone with little to no expirence and everything in between.. 

the next thing they will hit you with is insurance..  you pay this insurance in case you cant make payments.. that is also fraudulent there is NO insurance for private loans does not exist.. so they just try to suck as much money out of you as they can.. then either go dark or come up with excuses why your deal cant fund.. 

to to Lendinghome .com and look at what a real lender charges.

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  • Real Estate Agent · Member since 2019 · 16 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    @Lynnette E. Hello my husband and I own posh realty investors llc we are real estate investors/flippers. We are not hard money lenders. Someone has stolen our business information and my husband Willie Stevens information and is impersonating us with fraudulent activity. Our website is www.poshrealtyinvestors.com we will be going to the police to report this fraudulent activity and identify theft. Thank you

  • Member since 2020 · 2 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    @ Alexis Stevens

    Sorry that this happened to you.  I hope you can resolve this issue.  The name of the scammer in my case was William/Willie Stevens from NSBInvestors14 from New Smyrna Beach FL.  The website looked legit but there was language barrier because I could barely understand him in either spanish or nigerian thick accent during very brief conversations.  Also, another red flag that I shoulda noticed was his incorrect grammar with emails and texting.  My case is still pending with the St Charles Police Department IL and Volusia County Sheriff Department FL.

  • Real Estate Agent · Member since 2019 · 16 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    @Bryan Tecson thank you for the information I am also sorry this happened to you we are going to the authorities to put an end to this. People should not be able to impersonate and hurt others.

  • Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    Don’t feel bad, @Alexis Stevens. We went through this last year. Read this: Private Lending Direct LLC is a SCAM and I Own the Company

    There are several places you should report this to protect yourself, but the authorities have bigger fish to fry and will do nothing. Your husband must get his name around to ensure that anyone who does a search will know about the identity theft issue.

    Scam websites, which use the name of legitimate, licensed companies are unfortunately common and written about here frequently. I know this is an old thread, but those above who think they can simply look a license or LLC up, and believe they are speaking to a real company representative, are naïve.

    As long as investors are willing to borrow from online strangers, this fraud will continue and is almost impossible to stop. Real estate clubs, face-to-face (or now Zoom-to-Zoom, I guess), are the safest way to find legitimate lenders. Refusing to send up-front money or your personal credit info to strangers is another.

  • Real Estate Agent · Member since 2019 · 16 posts · 1 vote
    5y

    @Jeff S.Hi Jeff thank you so much for your support can you provide us with the places we need to contact to report this we definitely want to make sure people are aware and I’m so sorry this happened to you also. People are finding more creative ways each day to commit fraud.

  • Lender · Los Angeles, CA · Member since 2009 · 1k+ posts · 2k+ votes
    5y

    I won’t write much publicly, @Alexis Stevens, but happy to communicate offline or even over the phone if you send a PM to my inbox.

    In my experience, law enforcement will not investigate, so the main purpose of reporting is to protect yourself in case someone comes after you for committing a crime. This could be either the authorities (unlikely but you never know) or a scammed borrower.

    The obvious places to report are your local police and also the FBI (thru their IC3 website). There are others and there are other steps you should follow.

  • Brian BoydPro Member
    USA · Member since 2019 · 305 posts · 536 votes
    5y

    @Alexis Monroe Hard Pass!!! That screams scam.

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