Fake Lenders and there new approach here on Bigger Pockets

Fake Lenders and there new approach here on Bigger Pockets

Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes

It seems to come in waves the fake lenders hitting you up on the PM system.

lately the fake ones have upped their game through the years many posts on NOT to pay any up front fee so the fake lenders have switched to NO up front fee Until fully approved. So they will string you along give you a full approval that will then require money.. you send the money in and thats the last you will see of it. you have been scammed.

Red flags are still interest rates far to low for HML or terms to easy.

They are also sending links to fake websites that were created for the scam. Latest one I saw was out of Miami.

Then when its apparent they cant get any money from you or what they want up front is your phone number and e mail they kill that BP persona and go to open up a new account.

If you play along with them you can get a pretty long conversation going all the while the fake lender is asking for your private info and assuring you they can do the deal

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Member since 2026 · 19 posts · 10 votes
22h

Jay, good observation. What I would suggest when someone sees an offer that appears to be too good to be true, it probably is, but you can always check with the Scotsman Guide at Scotsman.com to see if they are legitimate. Or me.

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  • Member since 2026 · 19 posts · 10 votes
    22h

    Jay, good observation. What I would suggest when someone sees an offer that appears to be too good to be true, it probably is, but you can always check with the Scotsman Guide at Scotsman.com to see if they are legitimate. Or me.

    • Investor · Manteo, NC · Member since 2025 · 4 posts · 1 vote
      1h

      Thanks gentlemen time is money and we don't want to waste that nor our money in deals that want make it through closing. @ Clay would we need to create a account at the link you provide to check credentials of questionable lenders or provide you or the platform with the information provided by those lenders? thanks again for your time and insight

  • Chris SeveneyBusiness Member
    Moderator
    Investor · VA · Member since 2015 · 21k+ posts · 19k+ votes
    21h

    I've been very lucky, as I have not heard from these fake lenders recently, nor have I seen many of them on Facebook anymore.

    7e investments53 Reviews
  • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
    OP
    Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
    21h

    @Clay Edmonds @Chris Seveney these latest fake lenders finally realized telling folks 3% or 5% even newbs dont believe that.. So now they quote 1 point 9

    funds due once loan is approved. and of course thats the catch your approved but it never funds..

    fee's as we know on smaller rehab or refi loans are paid through escrow not directly to the lender. Now granted LARGE loans will often have a due diligence fee that is normal in the industry but not for the average BP investors buying SFR rentals.

  • Divin KanyamaBusiness Member
    Accountant · Seattle, WA · Member since 2025 · 391 posts · 152 votes
    14h

    This is an important warning, @Jay Hinrichs. The tactics may change, but the pattern is often the same: unusually attractive terms, pressure to share personal information, and a fee that appears only after the borrower has invested time and feels close to closing.

    Before sending documents or money, independently verify the lender’s license and business registration, look up the company through official sources, call a publicly listed number rather than one provided in a message, and confirm the closing process with a known title or escrow company. A polished website, approval letter, or professional-looking email is not proof that the lender is legitimate.

    It is usually better not to play along once the warning signs appear. Stop communicating, preserve screenshots and payment instructions, report the account to the platform, and notify the appropriate authorities if money or sensitive information was shared. Legitimate lenders should be comfortable with due diligence and should not object when a borrower slows down to verify who is on the other side of the transaction.

    • Jay HinrichsBusiness Member
      OP
      Real Estate Consultant · Summerlin, NV · Member since 2014 · 45k+ posts · 66k+ votes
      13h

      after about 5 or 6 request the guy finally sent me a link to what he said was his company website. names dont match up.. I am afraid they may steal real companies websites and just figure folks wont dig deeper.. I had this happen to me a BP member reached out and said the broker he is working with is using me as the funding source and its ready to close.. Never heard of the guy or the client.. thank fully he did not send money.

      there is a famous lender up front fee scam that was the subject on the TV show American Greed, Company was Remington financial. these guys got away with it for like 20 years and millions. Ingrid Robinson finally took them down.. but these were US guys with offices.. there model of theft was to approve loans on bigger deals and or development deals with newbies who had no clue they were not financial capable.. They would get the info and then say your project is approved we need 5k or 10k due diligence money then never fund.. it was established they funded less than 12 deals in two decades.. The idea was who is going to sue over 5k or 10k . Ingrid Robinson had a project in all place CLEAR LAKE CA were I started my RE career and she was buying an Island that I was very familiar with . As developer I worked with in the late 70s early 80s tried to get that approved and never could.. I mean it simply could never be developed based on environmental issues. Ingrid though had a dream here daughter OD on some drug and she wanted to build a retreat there to treat folks with drug problems so she was invested in it emotionally as well and financially.. And when REmington stole he money she went nuclear and new an FBI agent and between the two of them they took these guys down.. Both principals got prison time a lot of prison time.. Ingrid had a website up explaining all this not sure if its still up .. but if you can get the American Greed episode its really good and lays it out..

      Also coming out of the GFC I was working on a semi complicated transaction and ran into these guys myself. And of course they approved me subject to me sending 10k.. Well in my mind they just did not ask enough questions and were to quick to say your approved just send in the 10k. And coming out of the GFC were I got wiped out like a lot of us in the business 10k was to much to risk at the time..

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