Scams, identity theft and cybercrimes threaten everyone.
Every year people lose billions of dollars to scams, identity theft and cybercrime. No one is immune to these dangers. Young and old alike are victims and if you think you are too smart to become a victim, you are wrong. According to the National Association of Securities Dealers wealthy, financially literate and astute people are actually more likely to become victims of financial scams.
The key to protecting yourself from scams cybercrime and identity theft is education and that is where Scamicide.com comes in. Here at Scamicide.com you will learn how to recognize scams, cyber security threats and risks of identity theft as well as how to avoid them. Here at Scamicide.com we also alert you each and every day to the latest developments in scams, cyber security and identity theft and tell you what you need to do to protect yourself. It is a dangerous world out there, but Scamicide.com can help you make it safer.
Scam of the day – May 5, 2026 – Indiana Attorney General Warns About Mortgage Relief Scams
Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita recently issued a warning about scammers posing as mortgage relief service companies contacting people with phony and illegal offers to provide mortgage relief to people having difficulties paying their mortgages. According to the FTC scammers promising mortgage relief services target homeowners behind in their mortgages through false and deceptive telemarketing calls, text messages and online ads in which they promise to obtain mortgage modifications quickly and easily if their targeted victims pay an upfront fee. Often these scammers claim to be affiliated with the federal government.
Last year the FTC returned funds to victims of mortgage relief scams perpetrated by HOPE Services and HouseHoldRelief. In its lawsuit against these companies the FTC said that the they targeted consumers facing foreclosure, especially those who had failed to get any relief from their lenders. Pretending to be a “nonprofit” organization with government ties, they falsely claimed they had a high success rate, special contacts who would help get loan terms modified, and an ability to succeed even when consumers had failed previously. Instead, homeowners who made payments did not have their mortgages modified, and their lenders never received the funds
TIPS
A telltale sign of a mortgage relief scams is the demand for an upfront fee before services are rendered which is illegal. Mortgage scammers also often tell you to stop paying your mortgage and not to communicate with your lender. This is bad advice when you have a problem with your mortgage. Failing to make payments and not communicating with your lender if you are having a problem paying your mortgage will only make the problem worse. Finally, don’t trust any company that guarantees that they can get you a mortgage payment reduction and never transfer title to your home to anyone saying they are trying to help you. That is another sure sign of a scam.
If you do find yourself having difficulty making your mortgage payment, either speak with your lender directly to see if you can get a modification or call a legitimate credit counselor through the Homeownership Preservation Foundation which is a non-profit company that provides free help to modify your mortgage and avoid foreclosure. You can reach them at 1-888-995-HOPE.
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