2023-11-10 10:27:51
The Financial Services and Markets Authority (FSMA) has received numerous reports of the activities of fraudulent lenders in Belgium in recent months. The financial sector regulator warns Friday against these false credit proposals, which are often too good to be true.
While “the current economic situation is pushing consumers to look for credit to supplement their budget”, fraudulent lenders are taking advantage of this to offer them false credit, with the aim of stealing money from them. Injured persons come into contact with these “questionable actors” via advertisements on social networks or are approached unsolicited by email, explains the FSMA.
Scammers pose as approved lenders or registered credit intermediaries, sometimes not hesitating “to use the name or logo of reputable credit institutions”. They issue proposals “on very attractive terms”, promising for example to lend large amounts at a low interest rate. They also assure that they do not check “whether the consumer is a bad payer or whether he has taken out loans in the past that he was unable to repay”.
Following the offer, consumers are asked to cover certain costs, such as an insurance premium or administrative fees. Once these have been settled, the scammer disappears into thin air and “it is almost impossible to recover the amounts paid”.
The FSMA lists 18 of these companies, against which it warns, including Sine Kredit, Direct Krediet, NGO Aide Solution, etc.
In general, the regulator recommends being wary in the event of a credit proposal “out of nowhere” or particularly advantageous conditions. Distrust must also be required if the granting of credit is conditional on the payment of a sum of money.
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