Avoiding & Reporting Mortgage Scams

Reporting Mortgage Scams

If you receive a phone call, letter, or email regarding your mortgage that appears suspicious, especially those that require payments or changes to your mortgage terms, then please contact us right away.

Note: Visit our Mortgage Scams Resource Center for additional tips and information.

Avoiding Mortgage Scams

Here are some common “red flags” that may indicate a communication is a scam:

  • Communications with a sense of urgency and possibly your Mortgage ID number.
    We never send mail with your loan information printed on the outside.

  • Contact phone numbers that do not begin with a toll-free area code (e.g., 800, 855, 866, etc.).
    We never provide personal or cell phone contact numbers in official communications related to homeowner assistance.

  • A trial or modification agreement from the “Underwriting Department.”
    Our underwriting department never sends notifications directly to customers.

  • Requests to make payments with “unconventional” methods. These may include a prepaid/”Green Dot” debit card, or a Western Union/MoneyGram wire to an individual (rather than Mr. Cooper).
    You can always review our official payment method options. If a requested method doesn’t exactly match one on the list, please call us immediately.

  • Requests for up-front or advance payment to begin the modification, refinancing, or reinstatement application process.
    We never charge fees for applying or approving loan modifications.

  • Advice to start making payments to any third party instead of us for any reason.

  • Pressure to make any commitments you don’t fully understand.
    Be especially careful if you’re pressured to sign over your deed or sign any paperwork you haven’t had a chance to fully review and ask questions about.

  • The phrases “government approved” or “official government” in descriptions of loan modification offers.
    Government agencies like HUD, and government-sponsored entities like Fannie Mae, will never contact you to offer you a loan modification.

  • Payments you’ve been making that you were led to believe were going toward a trial or modification agreement, but we have no record of them.
    Please contact us as soon as possible so we can research the issue.

How can I avoid mortgage scams?