Utah Foreclosure Fraud

Yeah Right!

The unfortunate reality is that facing foreclosure may have you encountering more enemies than friends. And this is by no means limited only to soul-sucking debt collectors. There are individuals and companies out there who will have no problem taking everything you’ve got in the name of lifting your burdens, even though they’ve got absolutely no intention of making good on their promises.

Utah foreclosure fraud is rampant, for this reason, it is of paramount importance that you never let your emotions play a role in selecting your relief resources. There is nothing worse than feeling like you are in a fight against time, short on capital, and being beaten into the ground by your creditors… only to be ripped off and left in an even more helpless situation.

It can always get worse, remember that. Not being astute in your decision-making will likely prove this to you. Therefore, you’ve got to check your stress and desperation at the door. Realizing that there are still a few “good guys” out there who can sincerely offer you a helping hand should keep you hopeful enough to demand fair treatment… and receive it.

Warning signs

It is critical that your “scam radar” is set to “high,” especially in those moments in which you are at your most vulnerable. To help you avoid foreclosure fraud you need to constantly be on the lookout for companies that:

1. Are not crystal clear about the exact nature of the service they provide.
2. Demand an advance payment without ever actually doing anything for you.
3. Tell you to make your monthly mortgage payments to them directly in order for their services to be effective.
4. Attempt to rush you into signing your deed over to them.

Look for

Legitimate, caring organizations are out there. They will patiently walk you through the process and never make you feel rushed or pressured. Here is what you want to look for in a quality company that will provide you with the treatment and service you deserve:

a. They offer a complementary initial consultation in order to establish an understanding of your particular case.
b. They set your mind at ease, assuring you that you aren’t under any obligation whatsoever.
c. They make you well aware of all options you have at your disposal when it comes to preventing foreclosure.
d. They’re honest in their claims, providing you with an accurate representation of their success rates and not hyping themselves up to be more than they’re not.

Finally here are 3 major types of scams you should particularly be on the lookout for, including…

1. The Bailout:

Here, the unsuspecting homeowner is conned into signing the title over to the “rescuer” under the false pretense that he or she can rent the property until such time that buying it back becomes feasible. Unfortunately, the terms are often drawn up in such a way that this becomes more and more improbable as time goes on. By the time the homeowner knows what hit them;  they have lost complete control over the property and surrendered the home’s equity to the scam artist.

2. The Bait-And-Switch:

This one’s ugly. Here, the homeowner is conned into signing documents that they believe are bringing their mortgage current, only to later realize that they’ve completely surrendered ownership and control of the property.  By the time they become aware of what happened to them, they’re usually facing eviction!

3. Phantom Help:

This is essentially a scam in which the company performs a bunch of mindless “busy work” such as making irrelevant phone calls and filing bogus paperwork in order to dupe the homeowner into thinking that real progress is being made. They charge outlandish fees and never even come close to delivering on their promises.

Not only does this cost the homeowner a fortune, but it wastes a lot of time that could have otherwise been spent seeking out and employing actual, competent assistance.

If any of these happen to apply to you, and you believe that you’ve been taken advantage of, it is important that you file a police report as quickly as possible. In addition, you’ll want to notify both your attorney general and your lender immediately.

Don’t be a victim of Utah foreclosure fraud, for an honest, sympathetic evaluation of your situation give us a call  at 801-718-6156, or if you prefer, fill out the short form on the right. We can usually get back to you within 24 hours.

Photo Credit: Neighbor Works America