It is easy to fall victim to a foreclosure scam. You may be desperate and in fear of losing your home and are susceptible to such foreclosure scams. Foreclosure scams are tempting and sound like sensational offers and easy to fall for. High pressure phone sales people promise to come to your rescue like a superhero. And they often excite you with too-good-to-be-true guarantees of saving your home.

But, don’t trust these villains disguised.

Here are the 5 easy ways to spot a foreclosure scam in New Jersey:

Beware of the companies/individuals that:

1.  Guarantee that they can stop your foreclosure or get you a loan modification.

2. Are calling from outside of New Jersey and using high-pressure sales tactics.

3.  Encourage you to sign over the deed to your home, or sign any paperwork or agreements that you do not understand or haven’t investigated thoroughly.

4. Give you the impression that what they are selling is government-backed, by using the phrases “official government” or “government-approved” home loan modification.

5. Immediately request to charge your credit card number online or via phone even though you have not been working with this person and do not know them.

Don’t trust companies or individuals that make claims that sound so good they are almost unbelievable. Even if all they are offering is advice, there are free alternatives out there. HUD-approved counseling agencies will  give you advice without requesting a dime from you. Scam artists will charge you hundreds of dollars for advice that you can get for free.

Follow our advice and watch out for the 5 red flags.

If you think that you have fallen victim to a foreclosure scam, you can report it at www.preventloanscams.org by filling out a Loan Modification Prevention Network’s online complaint form and find out how to get justice. Or, you can call 1-(888)-995-HOPE (4673) and talk to a counselor.