It's different simply because that lender has a different policy. It's crucial that you always read the fine print before doing any sort of pre-qual. Most will say very clearly that checking won't impact your credit. If it doesn't say this clearly, there's a chance it could and certainly if you see any language at all to the tune of, "we may pull your credit..." you are definitely open to receiving a HP. No, not all of the others should be hard inquiries. HPs are supposed to be used for applications for credit or at times additional credit to an existing credit line. That doesn't mean that they're ONLY used for these things. There are utility companies, cell phone providers etc. that will hit you with a HP when you aren't requesting credit with them, for example.
You used the term "real" score several times. There's no such thing as a "fake" score, first of all. All scores are real, it's just that there are many different scoring models. "FAKO" scores are real scores. Are they worthless scores? Yup, but they're still real, as they're drawn from an actual scoring model... usually VS 3.0. FICO 8 is the most commonly used FICO scoring model, so you'll see that score version more often than other FICO scores. If your TU FICO 8 score is X and the score you were provided with was also a TU FICO score that was X - 50, it means more than likely that a different FICO scoring model was used. Since it was a loan, my guess was that it was a mortgage score and that you're seeing your TU FICO 4 score. There's more than a good chance that you'd see the ~50 point variance that you're speaking of.
As a point of reference, my TU FICO 8 score is 850 and my TU FICO 4 score is 805, so I've got a 45 point variance there that would be right in line with what you're seeing. I'd give the lender a call and ask them which scoring model they used just to be sure.
