Modification Scam

Posted by kevin on September 8, 2016 under Foreclosure Blog | Be the First to Comment

If I had $10 for every client or potential client that told me that they sent $1500, $3000, $5000, as high as $8000 to a mortgage modifier in California or Florida or wherever and not only never got a mortgage modification but just got a run around by the company that was supposedly representing them. Needless to say, they never got their money back.

The National Mortgage News just ran a story about a man from California who was ordered to pay $2.4 million in restitution and sentenced to 52 months in federal prison over his role in an alleged mortgage modification scam. He operated a series of California based companies that claimed to provide home loan modifications and other debt services to consumers across the country. They would cold call consumers and offer modifications for $2500-4300. Then, after they got their money, they would tell the consumer that they were approved for a modification. That was a lie.

I am not saying that there are not reputable companies on the internet that are performing mortgage modifications. What I am saying is be guided by the old saying, “Let the buyer beware”. Make sure you check out the background of the person you hire to do your modification.

The MHA mortgage program, sometimes called the HAMP program, is due to expire at the end of this year. If you had problems but are back on your feet, you may want to consider looking into a mortgage modification or refinancing under HARP before the program expires.