|
| |
Foreclosure Rescue Scam:
Information
The "pretend to help you" scam:
What they ask you to do
1) Give them cash so they can "negotiate" with your lender
2) Ignore your lender's phone calls
3) Ignore your court date; and
4) Do NOT contact an attorney.
What it really means:
They take your money, but "forget" to call your lender, while your house gets foreclosed.
The "let us review your documents for a thousand bucks" scam:
What they ask you to do:
"Just send us your papers. We'll have our 'experts' review them and save your house."
What it really means:
They will send you a document to file in Court that looks like a legal argument, but means nothing, while your house gets foreclosed.
The "deed you house and rent it back" scam:
What they ask you to do:
1) Deed the house to them.
2) They'll pay the mortgage and rent it to you
3) Then you'll buy it back.
What it really means:
They don't pay your mortgage and you get evicted when your house gets foreclosed.
The "filing Bankruptcy will save your house" scam:
What they ask you to do:
Deed your house to somebody else, so they can file bankruptcy or convice you to do it without talking to an attorney.
What it really means:
Scam artists know that bankruptcy slows the foreclosure. They pretend that the delay is a victory. But, if you file without talking to a bankruptcy attorney, you will lose your home.
|
|
| |
How to protect yourself from scams:
* Only make payments directly to your lender or servicer.
Do not pay a counselor money. Only pay your lender, after you have a written agreement (or your lawyer for his/her escrow account)
* Never sign over your deed.
Unless you are selling your house, there is NO reason to sign over your deed to someone else. This will NEVER get you out of foreclosure. In WILL make you lose the house.
* Get promises in writing.
Scam artists pretend that they are talking to your lender. Make them show you a written agreement from your lender, before you pay anything.
* Do NOT give out personal information.
The fact that you are in foreclosure is public information. Some scam artists call just to get your info. Do NOT give anyone who calls you any personal information.
|
|
