Shielding Consumers from Mortgage
Relief Scams
By Sarah Parr
The United
States has some of the most deceptive businessmen of modern times: mortgage
relief scam artists. They profit from worried homeowners who are behind on
their mortgage payments and give them a false sense of hope. To find clients,
scam artists may look through newspapers or go through foreclosure filings at
courthouses and government buildings to target areas known as centers of
foreclosure activity. Advertisement may come in the form of door-to-door
solicitation, flyers on telephone poles or roadside signs or traditional web,
radio and television advertising.
Homeowners
might not have the time to research mortgage relief scams, so here are a few tips
to avoid the dangers of a scam.
Before shelling out money…
It is free
to qualify for specific government programs that aid in the loan modification
process or foreclosure defense. It also doesn’t cost a penny to speak with a
Housing and Urban Development (HUD) approved housing counselor. Nonetheless,
shady companies have been caught charging clients for access to government
programs and housing counseling. If a homeowner rescue company asks for
thousands of dollars upfront for access to the latest government program or a
recent mortgage settlement, it could be a sham. Government and housing
counseling information can be easily accessed online. Homeowners should also be
cautious of companies that urge homeowners to pay mortgages to them and not to
the loan provider.
Nothing is “guaranteed”
Protection from foreclosure or the modification of a loan is
never promised, and access to certain government programs may only be
guaranteed for some borrowers. Regrettably, mortgage relief scam artists will
try anything to convince someone that a loan modification or foreclosure
defense is guaranteed. A scam artist may pose as a member of an official
organization approved by, or affiliated with, the government and claim that a
homeowner absolutely qualifies for a specific government program that aids in
foreclosure defense or loan modifications.
Detecting posers
Scam artists will do anything to appear as valid as possible these days. It
is common for non-attorneys to pose as attorneys and offer loan modification
services. Consumers should be waryhttp://g-xavierayeebo.blogspot.com/ 
