Disclosure and Terms of Use

This page explains what LoanSharks.com is, what it is not, and the terms under which its content is offered. It was last updated on September 27, 2026 and replaces all earlier versions.

What this site is

LoanSharks.com is a consumer education website about illegal lending, predatory lending, and safer ways to borrow. We publish guides, history, statistics, and tools such as our debt calculators. We are not a lender, broker, credit counselor, law firm, or financial advisor. We do not make loans, match visitors with lenders or credit cards, take applications, or collect financial information of any kind.

Educational content only, and your decisions are your own

Everything on this site is general educational information and, where we characterize products, practices, or history, editorial opinion. Nothing here is legal, financial, tax, or professional advice, and nothing here is a recommendation to take or avoid any particular action.

You are solely responsible for the decisions you make and the actions you take. Whether that is choosing a loan, confronting a debt, negotiating with a lender, reporting someone, or anything else, your circumstances are unique and this site cannot know them. Before acting on anything you read here, verify it against primary sources and consult a qualified professional: a licensed attorney or legal aid office for legal questions, a nonprofit credit counselor or licensed advisor for financial ones. LoanSharks.com and its operators accept no responsibility or liability, to the fullest extent permitted by law, for any loss, damage, or consequence arising from reliance on this site’s content or from actions taken or not taken based on it.

If you are in immediate danger, contact emergency services. Information on this site is not a substitute for the police, a lawyer, or a crisis service.

Accuracy and currency

We work from primary sources, cite them on our research pages, and show a last-reviewed date on major articles. Even so, laws, interest rates, programs, and product terms change, and errors are possible. Content is provided as is, without warranty of accuracy, completeness, or fitness for any purpose. Where a number matters to a decision, check the cited source or the relevant regulator directly. Illustrative calculations, including our calculators, use stated simplified formulas and are not quotes or offers.

Affiliate and advertising disclosure

Some pages on this site may contain affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission if you visit or sign up with a linked company. Where such links appear, the page discloses it. Our research and help pages, including the guides on illegal lending, debt help, and safety, carry no affiliate links, and no affiliate relationship determines any editorial conclusion on this site. We are never paid to recommend a specific product as editorial content, and we do not accept compensation from unlicensed lenders of any kind.

Third-party links

We link to outside organizations such as government agencies, nonprofits, and academic sources because we believe they are useful, not because we control or guarantee them. Third-party sites have their own terms and policies, and we are not responsible for their content, accuracy, or conduct. A link is not an endorsement, and no third party linked here has endorsed us. Before dealing with any lender, verify its license yourself, as described in how to identify a loan shark.

Comments and opinions of others

Where the site displays comments or third-party contributions, the views expressed belong to their authors, not to LoanSharks.com. We may moderate or remove material but assume no obligation to do so and no responsibility for what others post.

Copyright and citation

The original content of this site is protected by copyright. Students, researchers, and journalists are welcome to quote and cite it with attribution and a link; suggested citation formats appear on our research pages. Republishing whole pages requires permission. Historical images on this site are public domain or Creative Commons licensed, credited in their captions.

Changes to this page

We may update this disclosure as the site evolves. The date at the top reflects the latest revision, and continued use of the site after changes constitutes acceptance of the current version. Questions can be sent through the site’s about page.

Plain-language summary: we teach, you decide. This site exists to help you understand dangerous lending and find safer options, and it works hard to be accurate and sourced. But it is information, not advice, and what you do with it is your choice and your responsibility.