Avoiding scams and high-pressure sales

Stress attracts predatory actors. Protect yourself:^[1][2]

• Never pay upfront “guaranteed results” fees to strangers who cold-call.
• Verify licensing for mortgage assistance or legal services in your state.
• If someone tells you to stop talking to your servicer, get a second opinion.

After a foreclosure notice becomes public, you may get letters and calls from companies that monitor public records. An offer does not mean the sender works for your mortgage company or a government agency.^[1]

HUD-approved housing counselors can provide no-cost triage in many situations—pair that with attorney advice for legal filings.^[3]

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Sources

1. Federal Trade Commission. Trouble Paying Your Mortgage or Facing Foreclosure?. Common foreclosure-rescue scam warning signs and how to spot high-pressure offers.

2. Federal Trade Commission. How To Avoid a Foreclosure Rescue Scam. Upfront-fee, title-signing, and “government affiliation” red flags.

3. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. How can I find a housing counselor?. HUD-approved housing counseling as an independent alternative to high-pressure sales pitches.

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