I applied for a loan online (only need $300 by tomorrow morning), and I received a call from Click N Loans (210-787-3534, Peter Watson - spoke broken English - First Flag), saying I had been pre-approved for a loan of $5000 at a repayment rate of $202 a month for 28 months, which is reasonable, HOWEVER, then he asked how I would like to receive the loan (direct deposit or pick up via Western Union / Money Gram - Second Flag), and then said that "...in order to process the loan for you and release the funds, we need to see that you can make the payment and be sure that you are financially stable and not entirely dependent upon the funds from this loan so, we need you to make a one time payment of $202 today that is refundable when you receive the loan..." (Third and Final Flag)
Hello - first, with a name like "Peter Watson", I would assume (if not erroneously), that he would speak better English. Second, I don't know of ANY legitimate financial organization that offers to send you funds via "Western Union" or "Money Gram". Third and finally, HELLO!! If I had $202 today, I wouldn't need the loan to start with and I wouldn't pay ANYONE in advance if I'm taking on a financial obligation and promising to make monthly payments.
SCAM * SCAM * SCAM
Had this number call several times during working hours (I work in a government office). I told them politely not to call back. They left 15 messages over the weekend and started calling Monday morning. I told them (less politely) that this is a government office and any further attempts to call will ensue in tracking them down and prosecuting them.
First of all, no "Loan company" is going to request that you wire them money in order to receive the loan. If you believe that line there's plenty of folks out there willing to sell you a bridge.
Secondly, it is strongly suggested that no one apply for an online loan anywhere. As BigA says, ANY INFO you supply by entering in will be harvested and used for identity theft and you will be another name entered into a database of information that sooner or later will be sold to 3rd party zombie debt collection scammers who at a later date will attempt to convince you that you owe money for an online/pay day loan which never existed or no longer exists.
Lastly, these online/pay day loan criminals have also been known to "reboot"/"re-loan" money in your name by falsifying documents with the personal information you supplied them online. Whether you took a loan or not will not matter. They have your personal information and WILL USE IT AGAINST YOU.