Red Flags of a Loan Scam: A Guide to Protect Your Family.

Content Idea: "Is It a Loan Scam? 5 Red Flags You Can't Ignore" Checklist

Based on the urgent fear of a child watching their parents get scammed, we need a highly shareable, simple piece of content. The idea is to create a clear, visual checklist or infographic that can be easily understood and shared on social media or in family group chats.

• Format: A simple infographic or a short, looping video listing 5 points.
• Title: "Is It a Loan Scam? 5 Red Flags You Can't Ignore"
• Content Points (The Red Flags):
  1. They Demand an Upfront Fee: Scammers ask for "insurance," "processing," or "tax" fees before you get the loan. Fact: Legitimate lenders never ask for money upfront.
  2. They Use High-Pressure Tactics: They create false urgency with phrases like "This is a one-time offer!" or "You must decide now!" to stop you from thinking clearly.
  3. They "Guarantee" Approval: No legitimate lender can guarantee a loan without first checking your credit and financial details. "No credit check" is a major warning sign.
  4. Unprofessional Contact: The website has spelling errors, the email comes from a public domain (@gmail.com, @yahoo.com), or the person contacts you unexpectedly via social media or text.
  5. They Ask for the Wrong Kind of Info: They ask for your online banking password, debit card PIN, or want you to buy gift cards. Fact: Lenders need your bank account/routing number for deposit, but NEVER your password or PIN.
• Call to Action: "Share this to protect your parents, friends, and family."

Target Audience:

• Primary Audience (The Sharers): Adult children (millennials, Gen X) who are concerned about their aging or financially vulnerable parents. They are active on social media and feel a responsibility to protect their family from the types of scams they see online. They are the "worried kid" from the post, but now with the agency to act and share information.
• Secondary Audience (The End-User): Elderly individuals, people in desperate financial situations, or anyone less familiar with online financial practices. The content is designed to be so simple and direct that it can alert them to danger immediately, even if shared by a concerned relative.