An offer of “guaranteed” money deserves a careful check. Identify who is lending, what conditions apply and why any money is requested from you. A promise to release a loan after you pay an “insurance” or processing charge is a warning sign of an advance-fee scam.
This guide covers US consumer-loan offers. It is a verification workflow, not a list of lenders or a prediction of approval.
Ask what “guaranteed” refers to
A loan offer needs more than an amount in an advertisement. Ask for the lender's legal name, the product, the conditions still outstanding and the complete written repayment terms. An initial estimate or conditional response still needs to be read for its requirements.
Lenders commonly assess credit information, income, existing debts and the requested loan amount and length when setting personal-loan terms. Some loans have fixed rates; others have adjustable rates. See the CFPB explanation of personal installment loans.
Keep three questions separate: Who has applied? What has the lender agreed to? What remains to happen before money is disbursed? A guarantee protecting a lender, or a cosigner's promise to repay, describes a different obligation from an unconditional promise of funding to you. Ask the provider to explain the exact document rather than relying on the marketing label.
Verify the company through a separate route
- Record the identity. Save the legal business name, physical address, advertised website, contact details and any stated license or registration number.
- Check the relevant regulator. Use an independently found state banking or financial-services regulator to ask whether the company may offer that loan where you live. The FTC advance-fee loan guide links to regulator and attorney-general resources.
- Match the details. Compare the registered entity with the domain and telephone number in the message. Contact the company through independently verified details if anything differs.
- Read the offer. Establish the principal, net cash received, rate/APR, fees, payment schedule, security or cosigner requirements, and conditions for disbursement.
A secure browser connection protects data in transit; it does not establish who deserves the information. A copied logo or a professional-looking form is also insufficient. Take a pause if the sender refuses independent verification or insists the offer will vanish before you can read it.
Keep the verification record short: “entity checked, source used, date, terms obtained, unresolved question.” Resolve the question before supplying sensitive records. This record is more useful than relying on whether the sales conversation felt reassuring.
Inspect exactly what the fee buys
The FTC distinguishes legitimate application or appraisal charges from paying for a promise that funding is guaranteed. A fee alone needs context; a demand to pay first in order to unlock promised credit is a serious warning. Read the FTC warning signs before paying.
- Ask whether the charge is refundable and what happens if the application is declined.
- Ask whether a disclosed origination charge is deducted from proceeds, paid separately or included in the balance.
- Verify the recipient and payment method independently. Stop if instructed to send gift-card codes or cryptocurrency to release a loan.
- Keep a copy of the written explanation. A changing fee story should trigger another check.
Use the loan calculator and fee example to distinguish a repayment balance from the money available to spend. Smaller proceeds can make a seemingly affordable loan inadequate for the expense you intended to cover.
A fictional offer to examine
Write down the actual purpose for the loan and the cash needed. If the offer leaves a shortfall or a payment the budget cannot support, review the expense and alternatives. The debt planning guide provides a way to organize existing obligations before adding another.
If you already sent money or information
Act promptly. Contact the bank, card issuer or payment service through its official channel, describe the scam and ask whether the payment can be reversed. Preserve messages, receipts, account names and transaction references. Recovery depends on the payment method and circumstances; a second promise to recover money for an upfront fee deserves scrutiny.
If you shared a password, change it through the genuine service and replace it anywhere it was reused. If you shared identity information, follow the tailored steps at IdentityTheft.gov. The FTC guide for people who were scammed explains steps by payment and exposure type. Report the offer at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
US guidance reviewed October 6, 2026. Explore loans, credit and debt guides.