Beware Of Scams

Beware Of Foreclosure-Related Scams. There are many people out there willing to victimize people in financial difficulty -- especially when their troubles become part of public record as in foreclosure proceedings. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) -- part of the U.S. Department of the Treasury -- has issued a Consumer Advisory detailing the types of housing-related scams you should be aware of and how to avoid them.

• Beware of offers asking you to sign over your deed to someone else who promises to sell your home for you -- whether they do or not, you would still be responsible for the mortgage.
  
  
• Investigate people who offer to buy your property so you can avoid foreclosure. They may be legitimate but, to be on the safe side, check them out by contacting your state Attorney General, the state Real Estate Commission or the local District Attorney's consumer fraud unit.
  
  
• Avoid companies that offer to "rescue" your home from foreclosure or help you with refinancing, especially if they ask you to send your mortgage payments directly to them rather than to your lender. Posing as an "intermediary" between you and your lender, these scam artists may ask you to stop communicating with your lender, meanwhile pocketing your mortgage payments rather than sending them on to your lender.
  
  
• Thoroughly check out any "counseling agencies" offering foreclosure-mitigation services or government-modification programs for a fee -- often a large fee paid upfront. In many cases, their services won't save you from foreclosure or at minimum involve services you can perform yourself by working directly with your lender.
  
  If you feel you do need counseling to help save your home, look for a housing/financial counselor that is approved by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD); call (800) 569-4287 or (877) 483-1515, or go online to www.HUD.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hccprof14.cfm.

Give us a call if you decide to conduct a pre-foreclosure or short sale. We'll work with you to make sure your interests are protected in the transaction.

To read the OCC's complete Consumer Advisory online, go to www.OCC.gov/ftp/ADVISORY/2009-1.html or call the OCC's Customer Assistance Group at (800) 613-6743.

Orange County Real Estate > About Short Sales > Beware Of Scams

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