Beware of Scams
Avoid Scammers
During times of crisis and hardship, including COVID-19, scammers seize the opportunity to prey on consumers. Fraudsters are known to contact homeowners offering financial relief – including options to prevent foreclosure or eviction – in an attempt to steal personal information, money, or other property. These ”imposter” scams may involve a technique called “spoofing,” in which a criminal disguises a letter, email, display name, phone number, text message, or website to convince a target that they are interacting with a known, trusted source.
Here are some helpful tips to avoid being a victim to “spoofing”
- Never share your personal or financial information over the phone or via email and text messages.
- Be cautious if you’re being pressured to share any information, sign something, or make a payment immediately.
- Do not click any links in a text message. If a friend sends you a text with a suspicious link, call them to make sure they weren’t hacked. Report scam text messages to your wireless provider.
- Do not respond to calls or texts from unknown or suspicious numbers. Let the call roll to voicemail.
- If you answer the phone and are suspicious of the caller, hang up immediately.
Unfortunately, scam artists prey upon distressed homeowners by promising immediate relief from foreclosure, or demanding cash for counseling services when HUD-approved counseling agencies provide the same services for FREE—including through Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Help Network and Disaster Response Network. If you receive an offer, information, or advice that sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Don’t let them take advantage of you, your situation, your house, or your money.
Remember these guidelines if you’re contacted about your home or financial situation:
Help is free!
HUD-approved housing counseling agencies can help you negotiate with your lender or loan servicer. There is never a fee to get assistance or information from your mortgage company or a HUD-approved housing counselor. While some fee-based counselors are legitimate, be sure you know that free counseling is available and may be most suitable for you. Contact Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Help Network or Disaster Response Network for free housing counseling.
Beware of anyone who says they can “save” your home if you sign or transfer over the deed to your house.
Do not sign over the deed to your property to any organization or individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company to forgive your debt.
Don’t sign papers in exchange for a promise that someone else will pay off your mortgage.
ALWAYS be sure to read and understand all paperwork before signing to ensure that you are not unknowingly giving someone else ownership of your home.
Never submit your mortgage payments to anyone other than your mortgage company without your mortgage company’s approval..
Scammers might ask you to make your payments to them; however, they pocket your payments instead of sending them to the mortgage company.
Beware of anyone who says that you don’t need a real estate professional or title company when selling your home.
You should always have a real estate professional, attorney or a title company to help you with any transaction involving your home.
Know the person you do business with.
Before responding to any person or organization offering to “save” you from foreclosure, find out if the organization is HUD-approved. Find a housing counselor on the HUD.gov website. Your mortgage company or a HUD-approved housing counselor is the safest source of information and help.
Remember: If you are experiencing a hardship such as job loss, income reduction, or sickness and you are no longer able to make your mortgage payment, mortgage relief is available—reach out to your mortgage servicer to discuss your options or contact a housing counselor for assistance.
Beware Of Loan Modification Scams
Be aware of the following:
- Were you told you had to pay a fee to obtain counseling services?
- Were you guaranteed a loan modification
- Sign over title to your property
- Redirect mortgage payments
Counseling about your mortgage options should never come with any cost to you; for this is what determines whether you are even eligible for the program.
Not everyone is eligible for Flex Modification, so you should be leery of anyone guaranteeing acceptance into the program without taking the proper steps first.
Do not sign over the deed to your property to any organization or individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company to forgive your debt.
Never submit your mortgage payments to anyone other than your mortgage company without your mortgage company’s approval.
Scammers might ask you to make your payments to them; however, they pocket your payments instead of sending them to the mortgage company.
Retaining a private company to assist you with these programs on a fee basis is perfectly fine should that be the option you choose. Just be sure and perform your due diligence researching the company and be sure that the said company is always being upfront and fully transparent about their fees and what services they are providing for you.