Answer

How do I know a business loan offer is not a scam?

A legitimate lender never asks for an upfront ‘release’ or ‘insurance’ fee before funding, and can be found on the FCA register and Companies House. Upfront fees and pressure are the clearest scam signals.

2 min read

Upfront feeRed flag
FCA registerCheck it
PressureWalk away

The tell-tale signs of a scam

Advance-fee fraud asks you to pay a “release fee”, “insurance” or “tax” before the loan lands. No real lender takes money from you to give you money. Unsolicited offers, gmail-style addresses, pressure to act now and requests to pay an individual are all warning signs.

How to verify a lender

Look the company up on Companies House and, where relevant, the FCA register. Check the website is the official domain, not a lookalike. Apply directly through the lender’s own site — for Credicorp that is clients.credicorp.co.uk, never a third party who contacted you.

What it means for you

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally, and takes no personal guarantee. Credicorp never asks for an upfront fee to release funds — you apply directly and pay nothing to be considered. See business loans or apply online.

Frequently asked questions

Should I ever pay a fee to release a loan?

No. Any lender asking for money upfront to release funds is running an advance-fee scam. Legitimate fees, if any, come out of the advance, never before it.

How do I confirm a lender is real?

Check Companies House and the FCA register, confirm the exact official domain, and apply through the lender’s own site rather than any link a stranger sent you.

Funding for UK limited companies

Credicorp lends to your company, not to you personally — short-term working capital with no personal guarantee. See what your business could access.