Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Taking out Loans Online Can Be Risky

By Trinity Robison

In this day and age, there are many conveniences at our finger tips. If we need to get our hands on some extra money, it is possible to do it without even leaving our home. Online loans do offer some nice perks, but they are not without their risks.

There are a lot of different companies out there that offer online loans. One risk is that it is often difficult to know the integrity of the company you are borrowing from. Even though the company has to follow the laws of the state in which it resides, many states don't have very strict guidelines for online loans. This leaves the borrower in a vulnerable situation.

The truth is that identity theft has become a multimillion dollar criminal endeavor. Those that are making money off of it are really good at what they do. The only way to protect yourself is to be really smart about how much information you put on the web. So when it comes to applying for a loan, the safest way to do it is still to apply in person.

One of the most important pieces of personal information to protect is your bank account information. There is a financial risk when you apply for an online loan. One of the services of an online loan is receiving the loan direct deposit to your savings or checking account. In order for the lender to do this, you have to provide them with your account number and routing number so they can deposit the money in your account.

The biggest risk comes if you apply for a loan with a company that resides outside of the United States. If anything goes wrong, you really don't have any way of fighting the lender. You might be left up a creek without the money and with some major damage to your credit score. Don't get scammed; be sure to do your research.

Online loans are convenient, quick, and easy, but they do have their risks. If you do plan to apply for a loan online, look closely at the company you are borrowing from. Don't allow desperation to make you take unnecessary risks. Make sure the company has a strong history of safe lending and that their website is secure. If you do this, you can significantly decrease the risks associated with online loans, but just know, that when you take out a loan online, you are taking risks.

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