Mortgage foreclosure scams on the rise

Friday, September 14, 2007

Across the U.S., homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure are being scammed by foreclosure “rescue” companies promising to save their house but that only take their money. In light of this emerging trend, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) warns that gloomy forecasts for the housing and financial markets means that increasingly more people could fall prey to mortgage foreclosure scams in the coming months and years.

“According to estimates, as many as 1.7 million homeowners could lose their house to foreclosure in the next couple years,” said Steve Cox, spokesperson for the Better Business Bureau. “These people will be in the desperate position of trying to save their home and they’ll look for someone to trust. Unfortunately, con artists are seeing their chance to step in and make a fast buck off of troubled homeowners from Palm Springs to Pittsburgh.”

In recent months, the BBB has heard from victims of foreclosure rescue schemes in almost all 50 states. Not surprisingly, states with the highest foreclosure rates—such as Georgia, Colorado and Ohio—have an exceptionally high number of complaints for companies offering foreclosure rescue. BBBs nationwide have received hundreds of complaints from homeowners who enlisted the help of unscrupulous mortgage foreclosure rescue companies and they all tell a similar story.

Typically, homeowners report that they were either contacted directly by a mortgage foreclosure rescue company or came across a Web site while searching for help to stop foreclosure on their home. The companies claimed they would renegotiate the terms of their mortgages and stop foreclosure actions, or the homeowners would get their money back. Victims, who were desperate to keep their homes, paid as much as $1,300. In the end, the companies did very little work or often nothing at all. Most victims, not only lost their homes, but they also have not been able to get promised refunds, either.

The BBB offers the following advice for homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure:

• Contact your BBB or go to www.bbb.org to request a free Reliability Report before paying any “rescue” company. You can also check with your state Attorney General and state Real Estate Commission.
• Beware of the personal approach. Some less-than-ethical businesses will stuff a handwritten note in your front door or mailbox that implies that “help” is available from someone who has your best interests in mind.
• Talk to your lender. The first thing you should do is talk to your mortgage company about how to restructure your loan payment or refinance.
• Never sign a contract under pressure and never sign away ownership of your property. Ask a trusted family member, your attorney or a financial professional to review any paperwork you may be asked to sign.
• If you feel you have been taken advantage of by an unethical mortgage foreclosure “rescue” company, file a complaint with your BBB at www.bbb.org.

For more tips on how to avoid losing your home and to understand your options if you are facing foreclosure, check out Consumer Action’s publication 'Saving Your Home from Foreclosure'.