Caution Light, Fraud Alert

I woke up and went to my laptop to check my email and got a letter from a firm that offered a short sale certification course.in Michigan for $149 for three hours. Why didn't I think of that, said I? I went to their site and observed some of their advertisers. The light bulb went on. This Hope Now and Project Lifeline is going to open people up for the possibility of identity theft and fraud. I Goggled both of those phrases and it was incredible to observe the number of entrepreneurs that were sharp enough to build themselves a web presence in the past month. They may even be legitimate businesses that are just trying to make a buck, but it is scary. The real phone number for Project Hope 888 995 HOPE is contained in the letter you may find at this hyperlink http://www.treasury.gov/press/releases/hp820.htm

I had probably better do a good cleaning on my computer. I can only imagine the number of cookies I picked up as a result of some of the sites I poked around. Yes, some were asking my social security number and did not have the little letter S after their http address. Be careful out there.

The Michigan real estate market has enough problems right now. It is a really sad state of affairs to imagine some may wish to benefit from people's misfortune. Who would have thought that real estate mortgage fraud and foreclosure could morph into foreclosure fraud?
 

2 Comments on Caution Light, Fraud Alert

Absolutely.  Very important post Gwyn.

No matter what comes along to benefit the consumer, there will be the usual opportunistic scams designed to capitalize on them by defrauding the consumer.  We wonder how on earth the consumer can be so easily persuated to part with their hard earned money for promises of help.

 

03/18/2008 07:18 AM by Lenn Harley, Homefinders.com, MD & VA Real Estate


Today's news, tomorrow's scam. It is amazing how these individuals can make it look like they are helping, when they are not. The sad thing is that desperate people (or at least those financially challenged) will easily fall for these cons.

03/18/2008 07:48 AM by Frank Schulte-Ladbeck (Frank Schulte-Ladbeck Professional Real Estate Inspections)


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Real Estate Auctioneer: Gwyn Besner (Besner Auction & Realty)
Gwyn Besner
Traverse City, MI
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