How to Report Mortgage Modification Scams

Mortgage modification scams have been on the rise all over the country since the start of the financial meltdown. Therefore, it is important to know where to turn for legitimate help for modifying a mortgage. However, if anyone faces unscrupulous behavior, it should be reported immediately.

Instructions

1. Loan modification assistance documentation should be collected. Know who the help was supposed to be from (i.e., a company name or representative). Make note of their professional license number on all documents regarding the modification matter. If these steps had been overlooked, use the company name and address.

2. Check to see if other complaints have been lodged against the company/representative. The information found may assist in establishing a pattern of poor behavior when filing a formal complaint. Check with the Better Business Bureau and industry associations for issues. Also, file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau to create a record of the problem for them to help resolve it on a business to consumer level. Be sure to keep record of the complaint filed. If there is not any resolution at this level, then proceed to the next step.

3. File a complaint with the Office of Attorney General website. In Florida, you can go to the mortgage fraud link that is provided below in the references section. Other states with large amounts of fraud may have a link with the aforementioned office website. However, all U.S. citizens may report this to the Federal Bureau of Investigation as long as there are records of verification that are mentioned in Step 1. Otherwise, it may be useless to report.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be smart to add your experience on forums, blogs and other industry outlets to warn others.

References

• Florida Mortgage Fraud
• Fannie Mae: Mortgage Fraud Updates & Resources
• FBI: Financial Crimes Report to the Public

Resources

• Mortgage Fraud