BE CAREFUL WITH YOUR PERSONAL INFORMATION
The latest scam out that has hit the internet is fake web sites for mortgage companies. They explain to you
how they are able to get you the best interest rate and make it so believable that you submit your personal information along
with authorization to have your credit report looked at. As soon as they have that information (including your social
security number), they have stolen your identity and the responsibility of proof that your identity has been stolen is placed
on you.
Be careful. Check with the Better Business Bureau (BBB)
about the company first. There are local offices in most major cities and they are available on the internet.
The BBB can save you a lot of problems by checking the validity of the company that you want to do business with.
If the site is legitimate, they should ask for
some basic information, but nothing that could be used to steal your identity. Never give permission for the mortgage
company to obtain your credit without your signature. As a result of clicking a button, you may be giving some unscrupulous
individual the opportunity to steal your identity by authorizing them to pull credit. If the mortgage company is a marketer,
they will sell the information you provided to one or more mortgage companies; every mortgage company that buys your lead
will pull credit since you have given permission to have your credit report looked at. Faxing your signature gives you
a paper trail so you have a method of contacting the mortgage company and can also provide you with information about the
company that you sent the form to when you receive the fax confirmation.
Make sure that
the web site does have a secure server certificate. You should always do a verification of the mortgage company that
you intend to deal with; the integrity of the company that you are dealing with is one of the most important factors that
you should consider. Your personal information that you provide to anyone should be well guarded by you.
Too many people are mesmerized with the low rate that they find on the internet and think that they are getting the best
deal since sliced bread. Remember if it sounds too good to be true - it isn't. Check with other mortgage companies
on line and see if they are quoting the same rates for the same type of loan. Check to see if the lender does have an office or works out of their home and if they have a telephone number
that you can contact them with. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, such as: ‘Who do you use for Title Insurance?’
'Where are you physically located?' 'Are you authorized to do business in California and what department within the state has given you the authority
to do business in California?' They will either quickly end the
conversation or be pleased that you are checking up on them and provide all information that you are requesting.
Do your homework.
It is easier for you to do a little research at the beginning rather than to try to prove that you are who you are after your
identity has been stolen. Identity theft violates you. How do you prove you are you when someone has everything
that they need to assume your identity?
Specializing in Mortgage Loans for:
Contact us at: info@sucasamortgage.org
