Campaign Fact Sheet About the Loan Modification Scam Epidemic national foreclosure rate 2.1%. Every 20 seconds

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Nathaniel Watts
7 years ago
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1 Campaign Fact Sheet Abut the Lan Mdificatin Scam Epidemic Tday, the natinal freclsure rate stands at. Every 20 secnds in America, there is anther freclsure filing. There are mre than 4,260 hme freclsure filings per day. Apprximately 1 millin husehlds are currently in sme stage f freclsure. Experts say 4.9 millin hmes have already cmpleted freclsure since September The freclsure envirnment cntinues t prvide great pprtunity fr lan mdificatin scam artists, wh prey n unsuspecting hmewners with unethical and smetimes illegal tactics t scam them ut f mney and ften times their hmes. Many f these hmewners turn t lan mdificatin r freclsure rescue cmpanies, r even lawyers wh are unethical, fr help -- nly t realize they've been scammed. Lan mdificatin scams cntinue. Every day, hmewners fall prey t the slick advertising and sales pitches that guarantee t keep them in their hmes. Many scam artists are penly taking advantage f peple in difficult circumstances n the televisin and radi, nline, n hme and cell phnes, and smetimes bldly kncking n drs in cmmunities. Abut the Lan Mdificatin Scam Alert Campaign T cmbat this issue, Cngress asked NeighbrWrks America t launch a natinal public educatin campaign t empwer hmewners t educate hmewners abut lan mdificatin scams. The campaign targets all audiences, but its resurces are fcused sharpest n thse grups that have already seen high levels f scam activity, including senirs, Hispanics, African Americans and Asian Americans Our missin is threefld: 1. First, ALERT hmewners abut scams. 2. Secnd, help them spt a scam befre it's t late. 3. Third, encurage them t reprt scammers t the authrities. Thrugh an integrated marketing and earned media campaign, NeighbrWrks America has wrked with its natinal, state and lcal partners n the grund and 235 cmmunity-based affiliates t educate and prtect hmewners frm scam artists. Campaign partners have alerted thusands f hmewners in cmmunities at high risk fr scam activity thrugh real-life scam stries, fliers, pstcards, dr hangers, e-cards, psters, televisin, radi, and print advertising, lcal radi and transit PSAs, ut f hme advertising, search engine marketing, events, wrd f muth and scial media activity.

What Hmewners Can D t Avid Scams Hmewners at risk f freclsure and lking fr lan mdificatin guidance shuld AVOID any cmpany r persn wh: Asks fr fees in advance (it s illegal t cllect advance fees)

2 What Hmewners Can D t Avid Scams Hmewners at risk f freclsure and lking fr lan mdificatin guidance shuld AVOID any cmpany r persn wh: Asks fr fees in advance (it s illegal t cllect advance fees) Guarantees that they ll stp a freclsure r mdify a lan, r Tells yu t stp paying yur mrtgage cmpany r t pay them instead. Fr free, lan mdificatin guidance frm a HUD-apprved cunseling agency call HOPE (4673) available 24 hurs a day, seven days a week r visit Charts and Graphs Ttal Mdificatin/Freclsure Scams Reprted t the Federal Trade Cmmissin Cnsumer Sentinel Database ,000 20,500 20,000 19,500 19,000 20,480 20,540 18,500 18,000 17,500 17,000 18,086 18,079 16, Number f Cmplaints Filed thrugh FTC Cnsumer Sentinel Database = 71,185

3 States Mst with High Freclsure Rates 2013 Tp 20 States with Highest Freclsure Rates Flrida Cnnecticut Maine Hawaii Illinis Nevada Delaware New Mexic Oregn Rhde Island Suth Carlina Vermnt District f Clumbia Oklahma Washingtn 3.6% 3.6% 3.4% 3.1% 3.0% 3.0% 2.5% 2.5% 2.4% 2.4% 2.3% 1.9% 1.9% 1.8% 4.9% 6.7% 6.5% 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% Natinal Freclsure Rate in 2013 =

4 States Mst Affected by Scams 2013 Tp 20 States with Highest Scams Reprted t the Lan Scam Database Califrnia Flrida Illinis Texas Gergia Massachusetts Virginia Washingtn Nrth Carlina Wiscnsin Arizna Michigan Clrad Suth Carlina Tennesee In 2013, hmewners reprted 9,669 cmplaints t the Lan Scam Database ,000 1,200 1,400 Number f Cmplaints Filed thrugh Lan Scam Database in 2013 = 9,669 Original lan mdificatin scam cmplaint infrmatin is cmpiled and hused in the natinal Lan Mdificatin Scam Preventin Netwrk Database, which is maintained by the Lawyers Cmmittee fr Civil Rights Under Law, lcated in Washingtn D.C.

5 States Mst Affected by Scams 2012 Tp 20 States with Highest Scams Reprted t the Lan Scam Database Califrnia Flrida Gergia Texas Illinis Virginia Massachusetts Michigan Nrth Carlina Tennessee Washingtn Arizna Cnnecticut Clrad Wiscnsin In 2012, hmewners reprted 8,658 cmplaints t the Lan Scam Database ,000 1,200 1,400 1,600 Number f Cmplaints Filed thrugh Lan Scam Database in 2012 = 8,658 Original lan mdificatin scam cmplaint infrmatin is cmpiled and hused in the natinal Lan Mdificatin Scam Preventin Netwrk Database, which is maintained by the Lawyers Cmmittee fr Civil Rights Under Law, lcated in Washingtn D.C. Surces: Federal Trade Cmmissin, Cnsumer Sentinel Database Lawyers Cmmittee fr Civil Rights Under Law Cre Lgic RealtyTrac Fr mre infrmatin, cntact: Duglas Rbinsn, , drbinsn@nw.rg

Taking All the Credit: Tax Credits That Could Give Your Family a Break

Taking All the Credit: Tax Credits That Culd Give Yur Family a Break Vlume 26 Tax seasn is here again! D yu fear ding yur taxes r feel that it is a chre? It desn't have t be scary r take a lt f wrk. If