The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) this week warned consumers in all 50 states that fraudsters are posing as mortgage lenders by calling homeowners and asking them to pony up on payments.
The scam, dubbed “Green Mirage,” involves callers contacting homeowners who oftentimes “have previously sought relief from their actual mortgage lender and may expect to be contacted,” the FCC’s alert read, adding that the callers typically know specific details such as the homeowner’s name, address and current or former mortgage lender.
The agency noted that the fraudulent callers pose as legitimate lenders by spoofing the caller ID number of the homeowner’s actual lending institution. The FCC estimates that Green Mirage has impersonated over 400 mortgage lenders.
“The callers persuade the homeowner that they need to pay in a manner different than their usual mortgage payment method. Most commonly, the callers demand payment by asking consumers to mail money orders to third-party ‘attorneys’ and representatives or to upload funds to Walmart Green Dot Money Card accounts,” the alert read.
The FCC estimates hundreds of thousands of dollars of losses to homeowners based on the current volume of consumer complaints. The agency also said many only learn of the fraud when their lender started foreclosure proceedings.
The FCC’s latest warning is layered on previous warnings about scams following natural disasters. As California homeowners and renters continue to grapple with the LA wildfires, many are expected to be in contact with their lender, which could put them at risk for mortgage scams.
The FCC warns about “federal officials” asking for money or calls/texts asking for financial account information. If someone calls claiming to be a government official, the FCC recommends hanging up and instead calling the number listed on that government agency’s official website.
Insurance fraudsters are also prone to acting fast after storms. “If you get a phone call about an insurance claim or policy, don’t give out any personal information or agree to any payment until you can independently verify that the call is legitimate. If the caller says they’re from your insurance company, hang up and contact your agent or the company directly using the number on your account statement,” the FCC recommends.
