OCC Offers Consumer Tips to Avoid Foreclosure Rescue Scams
WASHINGTON – The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency issued an advisory today that provides advice to help prevent borrowers from becoming victims of foreclosure rescue scams
“Foreclosure rescue con artists take advantage of vulnerable people who have fallen behind on their mortgages and may be facing foreclosure,” said Comptroller of the Currency John Dugan. “People facing difficulties with their mortgages should contact their lender – or a legitimate financial counselor – sooner rather than later Lenders are often in the best position to help by identifying options or modifying the loan, especially if the borrower is current on the loan or not seriously late on payments.”
The OCC Consumer Advisory outlines what people should watch out for to avoid foreclosure rescue scams and provides a list of resources people can use to find qualified sources for help.
Most foreclosure rescue scams fall within three categories. In lease-back or repurchase scams, the con artist convinces a borrower to sign over their deed in return for a promise to lease back or eventually repurchase the property. Refinance fraud involves a situation where the borrower believes the transaction is a refinance, but in fact the fraud involves transfer of property ownership to the con artist. Bankruptcy schemes involve repeat bankruptcy filings to get a temporary stay order to delay foreclosure, but can result in damaging the consumers’ credit without saving their homes.
Related Links
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| Spartanburg Regional FCU will never ask members to login to their account through an embedded link contained in an email message.
Spartanburg Regional FCU will also never ask members to provide confidential information, such as debit or credit card numbers, PINs or Social Security numbers via email or direct mail, or over the phone.
If you receive any message asking you to do this, please do not respond to it. These messages are fraudulent attempts to collect your personal information.
Email Us:agault@srfcu.com
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FRAUD ALERT
IDENTIFIED ON 4/11/07
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Subject: Important Account Information Online Banking Suspension . (ID: 584-008)
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Dear Valued Spartanburg Regional FCU Account Holder ,
Spartanburg Regional FCU is committed to maintaining a safe environment for its community of customers. To protect the security of your account, Spartanburg Regional FCU employs some of the most advanced security systems in the world and our anti-fraud teams regularly screen the system for unusual activity.
This message is to inform you that due to recently fraud attempts that targeted our costumers, we have upgraded our internet banking system.
Beside changing the look and feel of Spartanburg Regional FCU
website, extra security measures have been implemented throughout our
system, in order to prevent future fraud attempts of any nature. Please
confirm your identity as a card holder of Spartanburg Regional FCU.
Your account will be transferred on the new system after a maximum of 24 hours period once you submitted the information requested . Payments and transfers that occurs during the update of your account will appear on your Checking Account with a 24 hours delay. Online Money Transfers and Bill Pays will not be possible during that time, but will regain full utility once the account has been successfully transferred.
Please click on the link below to start the process:
Click Here
Sincerely,
Craig Haley
Spartanburg Regional FCU , Safe Harbor Dept.
Spartanburg Regional FCU, Account Services
Spartanburg Regional FCU, N.A. Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender
Copyright © 2007 Spartanburg Regional FCU, N.A. All rights reserved.
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HOW TO REPORT FRAUD
If you feel you are the victim of account fraud or identify theft, act immediately. This should help minimize the damage to your personal accounts and credit rating.
REPORT FRAUD ON YOUR SPARTANBURG REGIONAL FCU ACCOUNTS
If you suspect fraud in connection with your SPARTANBURG REGIONAL FCU accounts, contact us right away. We know this can be an unsettling experience, and we are committed to settling your claim quickly and with as little inconvenience to you as possible.
Check fraud
Please contact us immediately if:
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Your checks are lost or stolen or you don't receive your SPARTANBURG REGIONAL FCU statement
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You see check transactions on your statement or SPARTANBURG REGIONAL FCU Online account summary that you don't recognize
Call Member Services at 864-948-2200 (toll-free at 888-223-0313)
ATM & Debit Card fraud
Please contact us immediately if:
Call Member Services at 864-948-2200 (toll-free at 888-223-0313).
Credit card fraud
If you have a lost or stolen Visa Card, report it immediately:
Credit: 800-808-7230
Debit: 800-523-4175
REPORT TO OTHER AGENCIES
If you suspect you're the victim of identity theft, you should also contact these agencies:
Internet Crime Complaint Center
http://www.ic3.gov/
Federal Trade Commision (FTC)
Identify Theft Hotline:877-ID-THEFT
www.consumer.gov/idtheft
Social Security Administration's Fraud Hotline
www.ssa.gov/oig
1-800-269-0271
Credit bureau fraud hotlines
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289
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