Mortgage Fraudsters Finding Ways To Exploit Bubble Bust
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It is hard to find a tragedy in the world that some heartless rat can't
find a way to exploit and the current and growing incidence of foreclosures doesn't
violate the rule.
Foreclosure fraud is not new - as far back as the spring of
2005 the National Consumer Law Foundation published a 68 page report on incidents
they had investigated in every state of the union and the Federal Bureau of
Investigation recently published its Mortgage Fraud Report for 2006 which said
in part:
"Recent statistics suggest that escalating foreclosures provide criminals with
the opportunity to exploit and defraud vulnerable homeowners seeking financial
guidance. The perpetrators convince homeowners that they can save their homes
from foreclosure through deed transfers and the payment of up-front fees. This
"foreclosure rescue" often involves a manipulated deed process
that results in the preparation of forged deeds. In extreme instances, perpetrators
may sell the home or secure a second loan without the homeowners' knowledge,
stripping
the property's equity for personal enrichment.
While foreclosure scams vary, they may be used in combination
with other fraudulent schemes. For instance, perpetrators may view foreclosure-rescue
scams as a new method for fraudulently acquiring properties to facilitate illegal
property-flipping and equity-skimming."
Bear in mind that the two aforementioned publications reflect life as we knew
it during the real estate "bubble." One can only imagine how much
worse it is now and how much more ugly it is likely to become as more and more
homeowners are or are likely to be unable to make their monthly payments.
Well, actually, one needn't imagine too hard. Several of the regular and
cable news networks have done stories on the problem in recent weeks. One reported
that the Attorney General of North Carolina had banished one foreclosure "rescue"
company from doing business in the state (the proprietor moved just a few miles
from Charlotte across the South Carolina border where he continues to operate
freely.)
Another network interviewed several people who had fallen for offers to "save"
their homes and found themselves not only foreclosed but out of substantial
funds they had advanced in hope of being saved.
Last month the Attorney General of Ohio Marc Dann filed lawsuits
against six companies, charging that they had made false promises to save homes
from foreclosure. Dan said that the accused may have each violated at least
five different consumer protection laws and that, in addition to the suits,
he was "issuing a warning to companies who think they can get away with exploiting
families who face the prospect of losing their homes: "Stop now or my office
will stop you."
"While predatory lending is despicable," Dann said, "I can
think of little that is more shameful or sleazy than attempting to profit from
the misery and fear of Ohioans who face foreclosure and are willing to do anything-to
grab on to any ray of hope-that may enable them to keep their homes...
So please be very, very careful and wary of anyone who promises to stop foreclosures
for a fee,"
In April of this year Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick called for the criminalization
of foreclosure fraud, better tracking of foreclosures including a filing of
a mandatory "pre-foreclosure notice" with the state, and a program to educate
the public about foreclosures saying that addressing the problem requires a
comprehensive approach.
The Governor also urged the state to offer legal help for homeowners facing
foreclosure including a new hot line and referrals to reputable financial counselors
and to crack down on all aspects of mortgage fraud.
Homeowners who are delinquent on their mortgages really are sitting
ducks. Foreclosures are not done quietly or privately, and the embarrassment
factor can be an important motivator to grasp at straws. First they are advertised
in the local paper, sometimes for weeks before the actual auction. These legal
notices contain all of the particulars of the mortgage - date, original amount,
a legal description of the property. It doesn't take someone interested in the
property - legitimately or not - long to arrive at a fairly accurate figure
for the current mortgage balance and only a quick trip to the county assessor
and the registry to determine what other secured liens may encumber the property.
And there in a heartbeat is an approximate equity value - a number that can
inform the scammer of the best way to proceed.
Also, as a matter of public record lists of delinquent homebuyers can be purchased
for mass mailings. These are usually broken down by 30 day, 60 day, and 90 day
delinquencies - some lists even come with mailing labels.
So finding and contacting a troubled borrower is pretty easy, but how do these
foreclosure scams work and how are home owners so easily duped? Is there no
way for a homeowner in active foreclosure to salvage something, if only the
shreds of their dignity and their credit rating?
There are legitimate companies who counsel desperate homeowners
and others who buy properties out of foreclosure on the up and up. The trick
is separating the scammer from the investor who may be able to legitimately
bail out the homeowner, probably through a short
sale.
We will talk about the MO of each in a later article.
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