Shaw Capital Guide 'Easy' Cash Offers Teach Hard Lessons: Warning

You may be tempted by ads and websites that guarantee loans or credit cards, regardless of your credit history. The catch comes when you apply for the loan or credit card and find out you have to pay a fee in advance. According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the nation's consumer protection agency, that could be a tip-off to a rip-off. If you're asked to pay a fee for the promise of a loan or credit card, you can count on the fact that you're dealing with a scam artist. More than likely, you'll get an application, or a stored value or debit card, instead of the loan or credit card.