Help fight mortgage fraud

Families who are working hard to avoid mortgage foreclosure have enough to worry about; unfortunately, there are unscrupulous agents and for-profit companies that may take advantage of people who find themselves in this situation.

If you have fallen behind on your mortgage payment, steer clear of foreclosure prevention and loss mitigation companies who may contact you promising that they will help you to avoid foreclosure. These companies may even appear to be affiliated with your lender, or list their services online. However, in most cases these companies are only out to charge you a hefty fee for information that you could receive for free from your lender or a HUD-approved counselor.

Most importantly, do not sign anything authorizing any business or individual with the right to act on your behalf. This is a common type of foreclosure recovery scam that may be a trick to get you to sign over the title to your home.

If you are unsure about a business or individual who is offering to help you avoid foreclosure, contact a nonprofit housing counselor who can offer you help and information free of charge. The HOPE NOW alliance has a 24-hour hotline--- 1-888-995- HOPE--- to provide mortgage counseling assistance in multiple languages. You can also visit HOPE NOW online at www.hopenow.com.

Also, there are more than 130 HUD-approved counseling services in Florida that can offer you free advice on how to keep your home. For a complete listing, visit HUD-approved Counseling Services in Florida.

If you believe you are a victim of mortgage fraud, call the Office of Financial Regulation’s hotline to report your case: 1-800-848-3792.

If you believe you are a victim of foreclosure prevention fraud, contact the Florida Attorney General’s consumer hotline: 1-866-966-7226.

Another type of fraud to avoid is title insurance fraud. Read what you need to know when buying, selling or refinancing a home.