Today’s Columbus Dispatch highlights a new, nationwide initiative led by NHC Housing Leadership Support Program Partner NeighborWorks America to combat scammers preying on homeowners seeking mortgage loan modifications.
Launched in October 2009, the Loan Modification Scam Alert Campaign was created to empower homeowners to protect themselves against loan modification scams, find trusted help and report illegal activity to authorities. NeighborWorks is working with national, state and local partners on the ground and 235 community-based affiliates to combat this issue.
The campaign’s roll out in Ohio yesterday brought together local, state and federal officials to discuss the implications of the effort.
“We can’t afford to wait any longer,” said Kenneth Wade, executive director, NeighborWorks America. “Loan-modification scams have reached epidemic proportions. There are thousands of fraudulent companies out there making a mint. The best defense is information, education. That stops these scammers in their tracks.”
The campaign is being promoted at the Ohio Housing Conference, one of the largest housing conferences in the country with more than 1400 industry professionals, which concludes today.
To learn more, or become involved with the campaign, please visit the Loan Modification Scam Alert Campaign Facebook Fan Page.