Couple of New Fraud Alerts from the C.A.R. Newsline

Today’s California Association of Realtors weekly newsletter, C.A.R. Newsline had articles about a couple of frauds you might be advised of.

FTC WARNS CONSUMERS ABOUT ECONOMIC STIMULUS SCAMS
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is warning consumers that they could get stung by economic stimulus scams, perpetrated on the Web and through e-mail, by enticing consumers to provide personal information or a small payment.

E-mail messages and Web sites may ask for bank account information and use it to drain consumers’ accounts of money or commit identity theft. Web sites also may persuade consumers to clink on links that will download malicious software or spyware that can be used to make them a victim of identity theft, or entice consumers to pay a small fee in order to capture their credit card information.

And

SCAM ARTISTS USING FORGED LETTERHEAD TO CON CALIFORNIANS
California Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. is warning consumers that scam artists are using the forged letterhead of major lenders to con worried Californians into paying thousands of dollars for non-existent loan modification services.

“Californians should be deeply skeptical of anyone who demands money up front and makes extravagant promises that they can save their home,” Brown said. Steps consumers can take to protect themselves from loan modification fraud are available at http://ag.ca.gov/newsalerts/release.php?id=1697&.

Just remember the old adage, if it seems to good to be true, you should think about it and check it out. One guiding rule I have always used and it has never lied to be, my gut feelings. If you feel something is not right in your gut, listen to it.