| Sushi 2013-01-18 21:02:52 Unknown |
Didn't recognize the number, didn't pick up. The Anthony fellow left a voice mail that was cleverly disguised as an impromptu message. I initially thought it was a wrong number but the obvious fail was that he didn't mention who he was trying to reach!
That all said, this is the first vm I've gotten from a robodialer, so I'm impressed both at the vm and at how candid it sounded. (I'm fascinated by how scams/cons work.)
BTW, tried calling the caller ID number back, call couldn't be connected. I generally like to call the incoming number back to see if I can extract any info from them, but once you start asking questions, they hang up.
@SDM, I don't know if you just got the same message, but you seem to think there are actual people generating these automated calls. Computer calls you; when you pick up, they put you on hold and the next person fields the call. If there's no one available, it hangs up. Dead giveaway it's a robo-dialer is, when you pick up, they don't; the line's dead, then comes to life when you answer. Really annoying on our end; very efficient on theirs. And you should ALWAYS respect people handling your food until you've consumed it, LOL.
@Telemarketer Killer -- I for one appreciate your posting the message, so I'm posting the one I got. It was similar, but mine had a bunch of "uhh"s in it and no mention of who it was.
"Hey, I was just calling you back to inform you that the... mortgage rates have dropped dramatically.... Uhh you can REFINANCE a 30 year FIXED at 3.5% with ZERO point cost. Umm... Even if you have no equity, you can still qualify. Uhh... OH, it's also a great time to purchase... Uhh... companies are accepting credit scores as low as 580 with 3% down. Uhh... Call me back! at 714-551-0951. That's 714-551-0951. Talk to you soon!"
... a lot of pauses and emphasis in the right places. It's very good except the obvious lack of personalization makes it an automated message.
| They're Back!!! 2012-12-13 20:58:46 Unknown |
More info (and proof that those behind this and other spoofed numbers are parasitical scammers out to get everything they can from you... and NOT the real deal!!!):
http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/prog ... vent_loan_scams
http://www.publications.usa.gov/USAFileDnld.p ... ncpnmkh4o8li2b0
http://finance.yahoo.com/blogs/daily-ticker/a ... 084137-905.html
"the push to modify loans has also provide new opportunities for con artists, according to fair housing advocates.
"All those people who did unconscionable things to people with the subprime and predatory lending?they're making their living now in these mortgage modification scams," says Shanna Smith, CEO of the National Fair Housing Alliance (NFHA), a consortium of more than 220 private, non?profit fair housing organizations.
A recent investigation by the NFHA and three sister organizations found the loan modification industry as being "rife with corrupt practices."
Among the findings:
* 55% required an upfront fee to start work.
* 43% guaranteed or promised they could secure a loan modification before reviewing documents.
* 24% advised or encouraged homeowners to stop making their mortgage payments or to stop contacting their lenders.
* 12% discouraged homeowners from seeking free help from government-approved housing counseling agencies.
In the accompanying video, Smith describes the findings of the investigation and offers advice for homeowners on how to avoid being scammed.
First and foremost, "anybody who asks for upfront fees is probably a scammer," she says.
Second, Smith advocates homeowners work with their current lender and take advantage of counseling services offered by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). "It may take longer but it's free and they're not going to scam you," she says.
Third, Smith says it's a "myth" that you have to be behind on your mortgage in order to qualify for a loan modification. "Don't ever stop paying because someone advises you," she says. "Don't lie about your income. Be honest and forthright?with your lender."
Fourth, don't sign over your deed to a third party who promises to pay your mortgage while working out a modification with your lender. This relatively new industry practice typically results in homeowners having their home sold out from under them, Smith says.
Fifth, only use HUD-approved loan modification companies.
Whether it's a promise to refi at a very low rate or quickly get you a loan modification, "if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is," Smith says.
While this may all seem self-evident, millions of Americans got in way over their heads during the housing boom earlier this decade and were taken advantage of by scam artists. Many financial criminals are now returning to the scene of the crime."
http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/Beware- ... -173421311.html
"dozens more illegal companies are still in business, advertising on TV, radio and on the Internet. They'll call you on the phone. They'll contact you by mail. But take the bait, and you can kiss your money - and maybe even your home - goodbye.
The Federal Trade Commission just filed three separate lawsuits against three operations investigators say preyed on homeowners, by charging as much as $10,000 upfront for help lower mortgage payments. The FTC says the three operations conducted business under 20 different names, offering mortgage and credit assistance.
"They'll do everything to get your guard down," said regional assistant director Dave Horn. "These guys would say, 'We've got a government grant.' So they imply that they have some connection to the government. They make you think that they've got some special in with your lender, or that they're actually representing your lender, and those things are just lies. They're just lies. There are many millions of people who are paying money to these scam artists and losing it."
The feds have exposed more than 40 cases of mortgage relief fraud since the housing crisis exploded four years ago. Investigators say the companies named in the three latest cases violated virtually every provision of the Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule (MARS Rule), which, among other things, prohibits companies from collecting up front fees for loan modification services."
http://losangeles.legalexaminer.com/miscellan ... googleid=250258
"The scams are typically initiated over the phone or through the mail, however, the people running the scams sometimes show up at the homes they're targeting. The companies will then offer the distressed homeowner their services to renegotiate the mortgage in exchange for an up-front fee amounting to one month's mortgage payment or more."
http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Publications/MortgageAssistanceScams.asp
"Mortgage Assistance Scams
There are several types of mortgage assistance scams that can waste homeowners? money and precious time: 1) Foreclosure Consultant Scams, 2) Mortgage Modification Scams, 3) Forensic Loan Audit Scams; 4) Refinance Scams; and 5) Mortgage Settlement Scams.
1. Foreclosure Consultant Scams. Foreclosure Consultant Scams typically target a borrower whose mortgage is in default or who is already facing the foreclosure process. Some organizations or individuals may represent themselves as counseling agencies but are actually only out to make a profit off the misfortune of others. Typically, these entities will ask for up-front fees in exchange for ?counseling? services such as financial advice, negotiating payments or other solutions with the lender, or exploring the sale of the property. These are services that borrowers can do themselves and may be offered for free by reputable organizations. Scam artists that collect upfront fees may not actually provide any of the services promised or may even disappear overnight. Under Minnesota law, a foreclosure consultant is prohibited from collecting a fee until after it has provided a service to you. Don?t be scammed by Mortgage Foreclosure Consulting Scams!
2. Mortgage Modification Scams. A new breed of predatory practice, spun off from the foreclosure consultant scam, has emerged during the foreclosure crisis: the Mortgage Modification Scam. The Mortgage Modification Scam typically targets homeowners who may not yet be in mortgage default or foreclosure but who are concerned about resetting interest rates or worried about their ability to continue making their payments in a troubled economy. Homeowners seeking legitimate assistance are targeted by mortgage modification predators that make empty promises to save their home, modify their mortgage, or provide other mortgage assistance, usually in exchange for the payment of hefty up-front fees. Don?t pay these up-front fees!
3. Forensic Loan Auditors. Forensic Loan Audits are yet another mortgage assistance scam that has recently developed. Forensic Loan Auditors exploit recent news stories of past predatory mortgage lending practices to sell a ?Forensic Loan Audit,? which the ?auditor? claims will discover violations of state and federal mortgage-lending laws in the homeowner?s mortgage loan. The ?auditor? further claims that these legal violations will provide the homeowner with ?ammunition? that the homeowner can use against the lender to obtain a faster or more favorable loan modification or to obtain other foreclosure relief. Like Foreclosure Consultants and Mortgage Modification Scams, Forensic Loan Auditors typically ask homeowners to pay hefty up-front fees for their services. In truth, there is no evidence to support the claim that forensic loan audits will help homeowners obtain a loan modification or other foreclosure relief, even if they are performed by an auditor, mortgage professional, or attorney. Don?t be fooled by Forensic Loan Audits!
4. Refinance Scams. Some homeowners become the target of fraudulent refinancing offers. Such fraudulent refinancing offers may begin with a call from an ?underwriter,? who may convince the homeowner into believing that the call is from the homeowner?s current mortgage lender and make a refinance offer that is hard to pass up (whether due to low interest rate, no closing costs, guaranteed approval, or the like). After convincing the homeowner to refinance, the homeowner is asked to pay a fee to proceed, but once the homeowner pays the fee, nothing happens and the homeowner is out thousands of dollars. Don?t be pressured to make such an important financial decision right away!
5. Mortgage Settlement Scams. In February 2012, 49 state attorneys general, the District of Columbia, and the federal government announced a settlement with the nation?s five largest banks, Bank of America, Chase, Citi, GMAC/Ally, and Wells Fargo. Reports have been received elsewhere that scam artists are already pretending to be the homeowners? mortgage servicer in order to obtain personal financial information or seeking an up-front fee to help the homeowner obtain the settlement?s benefits. In the first type of scam, scam artists call the homeowner pretending to represent banks or government agencies and trick homeowners into providing personal financial information. In the second type of scam, scam artists try to get homeowners to pay an up-front fee for assistance getting settlement benefits. If you are eligible for relief under the settlement, it is likely that your bank will contact you, but your bank should not ask you to provide your banking information to determine eligibility. If you?re suspicious, you should end the call and call back using a phone number that you know belongs to your bank. And, you should never pay someone to help you get any of the settlement?s benefits to which you may be entitled, especially since you can contact your bank on your own for free. In addition, the Minnesota Attorney General?s Office encourages you to complete a Mortgage Assistance Report Form, and the Office will contact your bank for you to determine your eligibility. If you?d rather call the bank yourself to determine your eligibility, use the phone numbers provided at www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com.
Homeowners should also be wary of any company, whether it be a Foreclosure Consultant, Mortgage Modification Company, or Forensic Loan Auditor, that claims to be ?attorney backed? or that uses attorneys. These companies may tell homeowners that they are exempt from Minnesota?s law prohibiting up-front fees because they use attorneys and that homeowners will receive better service because they are working with attorneys. In reality, these companies at best often use out-of-state lawyers who are not authorized to practice law in Minnesota. These out-of-state lawyers typically require homeowners to sign retainer agreements that provide only minimal services and homeowners often pay thousands of dollars and receive no results. Don?t let this happen to you! Find the right kind of help. "
http://consumer-law.lawyers.com/consumer-frau ... cing-Scams.html
"How the Scam Works
In the refinancing scam, the scam company or individual sends a mailer or calls you. The scammer offers to help refinance at the new, lower interest rate. Most of the homeowners targeted are having difficulty paying their mortgages. In some cases, you may have a high-interest mortgage, and are looking to benefit from the low interest rate to save money.
Or, you may have a balloon mortgage, where the payments have increased dramatically over a short period. Either way, you're desperate to save your home, and may even be facing the possibility of foreclosure.
There are some "red flags" that may indicate a refinance scam:
* The scam company seeks an upfront fee, before services are provided. The fee may cover "refinance counseling" or a "refinance consultation" or may be the company's fee for refinancing. It may be hundreds or even thousands of dollars. The company may do very little or nothing, keeping the fee but not refinancing your home.
* The company doesn't disclose its fees and rates up front. Under the stimulus plan, the interest rate is guaranteed and the law requires lenders to disclose the interest rate, their fees, and any costs. A company promotes the 2% interest rate up front, and then, at closing, raises that rate. In addition, "extra" fees and costs not originally quoted should be a red flag. Seek out companies who work within the new laws.
* The company asks you to sign over your title for a period of time or the company acts as a "middle man." You send payments to the company and the company "sends payments" to the previous lender. These companies are attempting to "equity-skim." In reality, your lender doesn't get paid at all"
http://www2.tbo.com/news/real-estate-news/201 ... ng-p-ar-399623/
"The person on the other end of the phone had all the right lingo, and promised Anthony Curatolo that he was pre-approved to refinance with a government-backed mortgage.
The new loan would save him hundreds of dollars a month.
"They said they were authorized to give out 2 percent loans because the government was given stimulus money for them to do that with," Curatolo said. "They give you a name like they're a mortgage company, and they're not."
....
There are pages of online complaints from consumers across the country detailing the same story. Federal authorities and local consumer advocates say this scenario is the latest twist on a scam to trick desperate homeowners into forking over cash.
The scammers collect lists of homeowners who are in default on their mortgages or in foreclosure. They often say they are "authorized by the government" to provide a low-interest loan. They require money upfront, then do nothing to help the homeowner.
When someone falls for the phony pitch, they're likely to be hit by other scam artists. That's because they land on a "sucker's list," as it's called by Kevin Jackson of Hillsborough County Protection Services."
The real deal, if any are interested, is found here:
http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/programs/lower-rates/Pages/harp.aspx
Along with the REAL phone number as well!!!