Know it. Avoid it. Report it.
HUD's anti-scam campaign speaks directly to homeowners who might be looking for help in meeting their mortgage payments. HUD’s goal is to help American homeowners empower themselves with knowledge to shield themselves from scammers and report scam activity. This can be achieved through 3 important steps:
Watch the video on YouTube in English or Spanish.Information for Homeowners:Are you having trouble with your mortgage? Have you recently lost a job or had a reduction in income? Are you facing a possible foreclosure? Loan modification scammers are targeting you. To counter this, HUD has launched a new public awareness and enforcement campaign specifically targeting loan modification scammers, calling on the general public to take three specific actions: “Know it. Avoid it. Report it.” Each day, scam artists posing as financial advisors and/or debt relief consultants take advantage of vulnerable homeowners whose homes have been threatened by economic difficulty. These scammers will often make promises that seem too good to be true, guaranteeing services that will either lower a monthly payment or eliminate back debt in order to save one’s home. To stop these scammers, HUD has merged the efforts of NeighborWorks America, the Lawyers’ Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, and the Homeowners’ HOPE Hotline at 888-995-HOPE to provide an “early warning system” that empowers homeowners to protect themselves and their homes, while providing the tools necessary to take action so that law enforcement agencies across the country can put a stop to these unacceptable practices. The purpose of this campaign is to:
The first thing you may ask yourself is, “Could I really be the victim of a scam?” To determine this, ask yourself the following two questions:
If the answer to either question is Yes, then report the possible scam. Call (888) 995-HOPE (4673) (with your permission the complaint will be shared with federal and state enforcement agencies). This campaign is designed to help you take charge of your situation, and shield you from illicit schemes. Arm yourself with this knowledge, take action against these scammers, and if you need help, speak to a HUD-approved counselor near you. Non-profit Resources
Enforcement ResourcesHUD Office of the Inspector General Federal Trade Commission: Report Fraud Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force |
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