Could that mortgage relief offer be a scam?

Life happens and sometimes you end up with trouble paying your mortgage. Maybe you were affected by a natural disaster, lost your job, or got stuck with a bunch of medical bills after an illness. Then, suddenly, you get an unexpected call offering you mortgage relief. But could it be a scam? Mortgage assistance does exist, but scammers try to take advantage of homeowners looking to save their home. The scammers often call unexpectedly, promising to modify your mortgage or give you a way to avoid foreclosure — if you make a payment upfront. But don’t pay. It’s illegal for companies to charge a fee before you get any services. Anyone asking you to pay upfront is giving you a warning that you might be dealing with a mortgage relief scam. Here are more signs of that scam: Scammers tell you to stop communicating with your lender…but you always have the right to contact your lender directly to see if you have other options. Scammers want you to pay them only by cashier’s check, wire transfer, or a mobile payment app because it’s hard to get your money back. Scammers try to convince you to transfer the deed to your home to them. But if you do, you probably won’t get it back. Need help managing your debt? If you don’t have one already, start by making a budget. Use this worksheet to see if you can find ways to spend less money and put the savings towards paying off your debt. Call the companies you owe money to right away. Explain why you’re having trouble paying and ask for a payment plan. Find legitimate help from housing counselors if you’re having trouble paying your mortgage, or find a credit counselor to help make a plan to repay your debt. Tell the FTC about any mortgage relief scams you spot at ReportFraud.ftc.gov and your state attorney general.