Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the hidden risks associated with online lending, emphasizing the importance of avoiding misinformation and upfront fees to prevent financial pitfalls [1] Group 1: Legal Boundaries of Information Fabrication - Many online loan users believe that slightly altering their income is harmless, but the risks of fabricating information are significant [2] - A real case illustrates that a user who inflated their income by 50% faced legal consequences, including a negative mark on their credit report, despite not being convicted of fraud [2] - The Supreme Court's 2023 guidelines specify that information fabrication constitutes fraud only if multiple conditions are met, including falsifying two or more documents and misrepresenting the loan's purpose [2] Group 2: Pre-loan Service Fee Scams - Common scams involve demands for upfront fees before loan disbursement, which are indicative of fraudulent schemes [4] - A case from 2025 shows a victim who lost 40,000 yuan due to a scam that required payment for a supposed loan [4] - In the first quarter of 2025, complaints about online loan scams reached 12,000, with upfront service fee scams accounting for 60% of these cases [4] Group 3: Best Practices from Reputable Platforms - Reputable platforms like Qifu Borrowing (formerly 360 Borrowing) implement strict risk control and transparent services to ensure user safety [5] - Qifu Borrowing employs a comprehensive risk control system that includes identity verification and income cross-checking through various data sources [5][6] - The platform adheres to a principle of fee transparency, clearly displaying all costs associated with loans, and offers flexible repayment options to reduce user financial pressure [6] Group 4: Conclusion on Rational Borrowing - The article concludes that avoiding the hidden traps in online lending requires users to refrain from fabricating information and to reject any upfront fees [7] - It recommends choosing reputable platforms like Qifu Borrowing, which provide robust risk management and transparent fee structures, ensuring a safer borrowing experience [7]