Hello Everyone,
Evelyn here,
with a consumer advisory from the Office of The Attorney General, Bill McCollum.
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CONSUMER ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
October 21, 2008
McCOLLUM WARNS FLORIDIANS ABOUT MORTGAGE FRAUD-RELATED IDENTITY THEFT
TALLAHASSEE, FL – In recognition of National Protect Your Identity Week,
October 19-25, Attorney General Bill McCollum today issued a consumer
advisory warning Floridians about mortgage fraud-related identity theft.
The crime can occur when “straw borrowers” are recruited to perpetuate a
mortgage scam on a lending institution. The person who allows their good
credit to be used as a straw borrower typically ends up with ruined
credit, significant debt and potential criminal charges. The crime can
also be perpetuated through criminal identity theft, which occurs when
thieves steal a person’s identity or personal information, unbeknownst to
the victim, and use that information to secure mortgages or other home
loans.
“Identity theft can be one of the more personally damaging results of
mortgage fraud,” said Attorney General McCollum. “This financial
destruction can ruin a person’s name, credit, and other personal financial
aspects, and may even result in litigation against a straw buyer engaged
in a mortgage fraud scheme.”
Just last month, Attorney General McCollum sued 10 companies and 15
individuals for a massive $37 million mortgage fraud scheme utilizing
straw borrowers in Central Florida. In that case, the ringleaders
allegedly defrauded banks by recruiting straw buyers with good credit to
create false mortgage loan applications. The scammers also allegedly
created fraudulent supporting documentation for the applications including
bogus employment information for the straw buyers. In many cases, the
defendants failed to make the required mortgage payments on behalf of
straw buyers and allowed at least 50 properties to fall into foreclosure.
Six alleged straw borrowers are named as defendants in the Attorney
General’s lawsuit.
Tips to avoid mortgage fraud-related identity theft and fraud from the
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development include:
- Be wary of any attempt to persuade you to make a false statement on
your loan application, such as overstating your income or the source of
your down payment, and failing to disclose the nature and amount of your
debts or how long you have been employed. Lying on a mortgage application
is fraud and may result in criminal penalties.
- Be wary of any attempt to persuade you to borrow more money than you
know you can afford to repay.
- Never sign a blank document or a document containing blanks. If
information is inserted by someone else after you have signed, you may
still be bound to the terms of the contract.
- Read everything carefully and ask questions. Do not sign anything
that you don't understand.
- Be honest about your intention to occupy the house. Stating that you
plan to live there when in fact you do not violates federal law and is a
crime.
Consumers who believe they may be victims of identity theft or fraud may
contact the Attorney General's fraud hotline at 1-866-9-NO-SCAM
(1-866-966-7226) or file a complaint online at http://myfloridalegal.com.
Additional information about identity theft, tips to protect individuals,
and recovery information is available online at:
http://myfloridalegal.com/identitytheft.
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Evelyn out.
