{"id":2062,"date":"2024-03-07T20:15:42","date_gmt":"2024-03-07T20:15:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mymortgagepros.com\/?p=2062"},"modified":"2024-03-07T20:16:14","modified_gmt":"2024-03-07T20:16:14","slug":"mortgage-fraud-awareness-month-dont-be-a-victim","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mymortgagepros.com\/mortgage-fraud-awareness-month-dont-be-a-victim\/","title":{"rendered":"Mortgage Fraud Awareness month! Don’t be a victim!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Did you know? March is Fraud Awareness Month. Protecting yourself and your mortgage from fraud is crucial to safeguard your financial well-being. Understanding some of the more common mortgage fraud scams and how to protect yourself can make all the difference!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The most common type of mortgage fraud involves a criminal obtaining a property, and then increasing its value through a series of sales and resales involving the fraudster and someone working in cooperation with them. A mortgage is then secured for the property based on the inflated price.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u00a0Below are some red flags to be aware of as potential lead-ins to fraud:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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  1. If someone offers you money to use your name and credit information to obtain a mortgage <\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. If you are encouraged to include false information on a mortgage application<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. If you are asked to leave signature lines or other important areas of your mortgage application blank<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  4. If the seller or investment advisor discourages you from seeing or inspecting the property you will be purchasing<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  5. If the seller or developer rebates money on closing, and you don\u2019t disclose this to your lending institution<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
    \u00a0Another fraud scheme to be aware of is title fraud. <\/strong><\/h5>\n\n\n\n

    Title fraud is essentially a form of identity theft and is typically discovered when your mortgage mysteriously goes into default and the lender begins foreclosure proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

     With title fraud an individual, who is using false identification to pose as you, will register forged documents transferring your property to his\/her name. From there, they register a forged discharge of your existing mortgage and get a new mortgage against your property. Then the fraudster makes off with the new home loan money without making mortgage payments. The bank thinks you are the one defaulting \u2013 and your economic downfall begins.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \u00a0But don\u2019t panic! There are lots of ways you can protect yourself from title fraud:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n