Description

We received a letter in the mail that appeared to be from our mortgage lender. The letter claimed it could help us obtain a reduced mortgage interest rate and lower monthly payments if we called the phone number provided. When we called, the representatives stated they were attorneys working on behalf of the Homeowner Assistance Fund and encouraged us to verify the fund’s legitimacy on the U.S. Department of Treasury website. They presented themselves as a legitimate legal assistance service and had us sign documentation agreeing to their terms as part of the next step in the process. They asked us personally identifiable information as well such as documentation for proof of address (DTE Bill & our mortgage statement), income information, if we have any debt, etc. Before we realized they were not a real business, they informed us that we would owe $1,775 for their services and we were nearly prepared to pay it. At that point, we discovered the company was not legitimate and ceased all communication. This appears to be a deceptive scheme targeting homeowners by impersonating mortgage lenders and misrepresenting affiliation with government programs. I have attached the document they sent my husband.