Core Viewpoint - The article highlights the rising trend of fraudulent loan scams in China, emphasizing the importance of recognizing legitimate lending platforms to avoid financial loss [1][5]. Group 1: Typical Scams - Fraudulent loan scams often use enticing offers such as "no collateral, low interest, instant approval" to lure victims into downloading fake apps [2]. - Victims are typically asked to pay "unfreezing fees" or "guarantee deposits" after being informed of issues like "incorrect bank card number" or "account frozen" [2]. - A case example illustrates a victim who lost 38,000 yuan after being tricked into paying various fees for a supposed loan [2]. Group 2: Identifying Legitimate Platforms - Legitimate platforms can be identified by downloading apps only from official app stores and verifying their credentials through the National Enterprise Credit Information Publicity System [3]. - Transparency in loan processes, including clear communication of interest rates and fees, is a hallmark of legitimate lending platforms [3]. - A case warning highlights a victim who almost lost 20,000 yuan by downloading a fraudulent app from an unknown link [3]. Group 3: Personal Information Protection - Scammers often attempt to steal personal information by requesting sensitive data under the guise of verifying creditworthiness [4]. - Legitimate platforms, like 奇富借条, utilize bank-level encryption to protect user information and do not ask for sensitive data like verification codes or bank passwords [4]. - A case example shows a victim who lost 18,000 yuan after providing a verification code to scammers [4]. Group 4: Conclusion and Recommendations - The article stresses that choosing legitimate platforms is crucial to avoid falling into the trap of fraudulent loans, which can lead to significant financial losses [5][6]. - Data indicates that victims of loan scams have an average loss exceeding 20,000 yuan, equivalent to three months of income for an average family [5]. - Users are advised to report scams to authorities and preserve evidence for investigations [6].

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]