Story Created:
May 26, 2009 at 6:44 AM CST
Story Updated:
May 26, 2009 at 7:01 AM CST
Topic: “Smishing” scams are the new threat to cell phone users
Texas cell phone users should beware of an emerging, high-tech threat that has been dubbed: “smishing.” Spammers have begun sending fraudulent cell phone text messages. Effective spam filters have not yet been developed for cell phone text messages. While misspelled e-mail messages and broken address links make it simpler to judge a spam e-mail, determining whether a text message is legitimate may be difficult. There are no images only text and the message is usually short. Smishing recipients should not respond to the sender. In fact, they should not call any telephone numbers provided in the text message – nor should they click on any Web links. Of course the Spammers are, among other things, attempting to obtain customers’ personal identifying information.
Topic: Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue Scams Hit the Coastal Bend
Your BBB received a really sad call the other day. The caller said she was losing her home. She called to ask about a company in California that was coming to her rescue. She had already sent them two thousand dollars to start the refinancing. Unfortunately we had to tell her that the company had a rating of “F” with BBB and that the Federal Trade Commission had filed a complaint against the company.
According to the FTC’s complaint, the defendants charge consumers from $1,000 to $3,000 in fees for these services, much of which must be paid up-front, but fails in numerous instances to obtain the promised loan modifications. The company is Federal Loan Modification Law Center. If you have had dealings with the company contact the FTC. If you have a mortgage problem you really need to work with recognized companies.
And a little closer to home. A Harris County district judge has frozen several Houston firms’ assets after the Texas Attorney General charged the companies with running
foreclosure “rescue” scams. The state’s enforcement action names Excel Loss Mitigation Inc., United Servicing LLC, and Bell Investments & Developments. Alledgedly the companies proactively contacted hundreds of homeowners who were struggling to pay their mortgages. State investigators discovered that the companies employed telemarketers who falsely promised that their services would allow homeowners to avoid foreclosure.
So what should a consumer do if they are having mortgage problems? First, they need to try and work out an arrangement with their mortgage company. If things are really overwhelming consumers may wish to contact a HUD approved mortgage counseling office. We have three in our area. They are:
· Catholic Charities of Corpus Christi
· Texas Rio Grande Legal Aid
· Consumer Credit Counseling of South Texas
The HUD directory of approved counseling services may be found at:
According to the Attorney General another reliable resource is Homeowners Ownership Hotline. Their phone number is 1-888-995-4673 and their website is:
