Considering how much personal data you have to give to a legitimate employer, seems like the scammers just invoked a lot of unnecessary effort in making the applicant fill out the loan paperwork themselves.
Difference might be in voluntarily making bank account and applying for loan and impersonating person. One might be punishable as criminal offence, other as minor scam (not sure about proper legal terms). Also in certain jurisdictions it makes sense as different police units investigating certain crimes and scammers might be connected.
