Center for Faith-Based and

Neighborhood Partnerships

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

TOOLKITon 

Foreclosure Prevention 

& Scam Awareness for 

Faith-Based and Community 

Organizations
Center for

Faith-Based 

and

Neighborhood 

Partnerships

The Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 

serves as a resource center for secular and faith-based 

non-profit organizations seeking to partner with HUD to 

address the housing and community development needs 

of the neighborhoods in which they operate. The Center 

builds partnerships and serves as a liaison between the 

grassroots and federal government, ensuring that groups 

have the latest information about HUD opportunities and 

programs as well as other federal resources available to 

their communities. The Center also convenes outside 

partners, practitioners and organizations from the nonprofit and faith communities along with policy makers and 

government officials to more effectively identify and meet 

the needs of some of the nation’s most vulnerable citizens.

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
4

1

7

10

FORECLOSURES & SCAMS

What You Can Do for Members of Your Community

FORECLOSURE PREVENTION

10 Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure

SCAM AWARENESS

How to Identify Signs of a Mortgage Modification Scam

RESOURCES AND ADVERTISING

Foreclosure & Scam Web Resources

Downloadable Audio, Video & Other Print Materials

Where to Report Mortgage, Foreclosure, Consumer and 

Scam Fraud

Education Materials

CONTENTS
FORECLOSURES

& SCAMS

1 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
Ideas on how you can inform members of your 

community about Foreclosure Prevention and 

Scam Awareness:

DISTRIBUTE brochures, pamphlets or flyers at meetings, 

gatherings, and church services. 

A full list of Government resources can be found in the 

Resources Section of this Guide/Toolkit.

HUD TIPS FOR AVOIDING FORECLOSURE 

www.hud.gov/foreclosure/foreclosuretips.cfm

ARE YOU AT RISK OF FORECLOSURE 

AND LOSING YOUR HOME?

www.hud.gov/foreclosure/fctimeline.cfm

FDIC BEWARE OF FORECLOSURE RESCUE 

AND LOAN MODIFICATION SCAMS 

www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/rescue/images/foreclosurescam.pdf

OCC CONSUMER ADVISORY 

http://www.occ.treas.gov/ftp/ADVISORY/2009-1.pdf

WHAT YOU CAN 

DO for MEMBERS of 

YOUR COMMUNITY

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 2
PUBLICIZE AND PROMOTE the brochures and pamphlets in 

your church or organization’s office reception area, newsletters, 

bulletins and church weekly announcements

ORDER FREE MATERIALS (brochures, flyers and pamphlets) in 

English and Spanish from government agencies (see Resources 

Section)

PROMOTE homeowner events in your area:

•	 Making Home Affordable events:

http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/homeowner_events.html

•	 Hope Now events:

http://www.hopenow.com/upcoming-events.php

ADVERTISE by posting a web hyperlink to the Making Home 

Affordable or Hope Now website on your church or organization’s 

website

Ideas on how you can enlist other church 

and non-profit leaders in your community 

to raise awareness:

PUBLICIZE AND PROMOTE this Toolkit to your church ministry 

leaders, organization department heads, or at community 

leaders meetings

ORGANIZE an informational workshop for members of your 

church or community by partnering with a local city or county 

government Foreclosure Prevention program, the local HUD 

office, a Housing Counseling Agency and/or other Federal 

Agency (see Resources Section)

SEEK OUT your local city or county government’s law 

enforcement office and make them aware if your members have 

been victimized and or approached by scammers

CALL your local or closest HUD Field Office (www.hud.gov) to 

assist you in gathering additional resources and information

3 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
FORECLOSURE 

PREVENTION

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 4
10 Tips

for Avoiding Foreclosure

1. Don’t ignore the problem. The further 

behind you become, the harder it will 

be to reinstate your loan and the more 

likely that you will lose your house.

2. Contact your lender as soon as you 

realize that you have a problem. Lenders 

do not want your house and want to 

work with you to resolve the problem.

3. Open and respond to all mail 

from your lender. Your failure 

to open the mail will not be an 

excuse in foreclosure court.

4. Know your mortgage rights. Find 

your loan documents and read them 

so you know what your lender may do 

if you can’t make your payments. 

5. Understand foreclosure prevention options. 

Valuable information about foreclosure 

prevention (also called loss mitigation) 

options can be found on the internet at

www.hud.gov/foreclosure.

5 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
7. Prioritize your spending. After healthcare, 

mortgage payments should be your first priority. 

Review your finances and see where you can cut 

spending (cable TV, eating out, memberships).

8. Use your assets. Do you have assetsa second car, jewelry, a whole life 

insurance policy-that you can sell for 

cash to help reinstate your loan?

9. Avoid foreclosure prevention companies. 

You don’t need to pay high fees for foreclosure 

prevention help. Your lender or a HUD approved 

housing counselor will provide FREE assistance.

10. Don’t lose your house to foreclosure 

recovery/rescue scams! Don’t be a victim of scam 

artists who are taking advantage of people at risk 

of foreclosure. Talk to your lender or a HUD 

approved housing counselor.

6. Contact a HUD-approved housing 

counselor. Housing counselors can help you 

understand the law and your options, organize 

your finances and represent you in negotiations 

with your lender if you need this assistance. 

To find a local agency search the web at 

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/hcs.cfm 

or call (800) 569-4287 or TTY (800) 877-8339.

Are you having trouble keeping up with your 

mortgage payments?

Have you received a notice from your lender 

asking you to contact them?

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 6
SCAM

AWARENESS

7 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
SCAM ARTISTS often target homeowners who are struggling to 

meet their mortgage payment or are anxious to sell their homes.

BEWAREof anyone who asks you to pay a fee up front in exchange 

for a counseling service or modification of a delinquent loan or 

who “guarantees” that they can stop the foreclosure process. 

Assistance from a HUD approved housing counselor is FREE. 

BEWARE of people who pressure you to sign papers immediately, 

or who claim they can “save” your home if you sign or transfer 

over the property deed.

DO NOT sign over the deed to your property to any organization 

or individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage 

company/lender to forgive your debt.

NEVER make a mortgage payment to anyone other than your 

mortgage company/lender without their approval.

FOR HOMEOWNERS age 62 or older who are thinking about a 

Reverse mortgage (Home Equity Conversion Mortgage/HECM) 

beware of scam artists who charge thousands of dollars for 

HOW TO IDENTIFY SIGNS 

of a MORTGAGE

MODIFICATION SCAM

Beware of Foreclosure Rescue Scams!

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 8
information that is FREE from a HUD approved housing counseling 

agency.

•	 http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/

hecm/hecmhome

•	 www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/homes/rea13.shtm

BE CAUTIOUS of companies who are willing to make a donation 

to your church or non-profit as they could potentially use their 

donation as a means to promote themselves as “affiliated” or 

“endorsed by your church.”

PREVENT LOAN SCAMS – Stop Loan Modification Scams!

•	 http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/

prevent_loan_scams

PREDATORY LENDING – Don’t Be a Victim of Loan Fraud

•	 http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD/program_offices/housing/sfh/

buying/loanfraud

Additional Resources

9 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
RESOURCES AND 

ADVERTISING

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 10
English: http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/index.html

Spanish: http://www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/spanish/index.html 

1-877-622-8525 or 1-800-CALL-FHA 

NATIONAL MORTGAGE SETTLEMENT 

http://www.nationalmortgagesettlement.com/ 

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT

English: http://portal.hud.gov/portal/page/portal/HUD/topics/avoiding_foreclosure

Spanish: http://espanol.hud.gov/foreclosure/

HUD-APPROVED HOUSING COUNSELING AGENCIES

http://www.hud.gov/offices/hsg/sfh/hcc/fc/

Call: 1-800-569-4287; TDD 1-800-877-8339

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

http://benefits.va.gov/homeloans/

1-877-827-3702

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/mortgagehelp/

1-855-411-2372

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE RURAL HOME LOAN

http://rdhomeloans.usda.gov/fcls.html

1-800-793-8861

MILITARY PERSONNEL, RESERVISTS & GUARDSMEN

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/HUD?src=/program_offices/housing/sfh/nsc/qasscra1

HOPENOW – SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE FOR HOMEOWNERS

www.hopenow.com

Foreclosure & Scam

Web Resources

11 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
FREDDIE MAC: FORECLOSURE & SCAMS

English: http://www.freddiemac.com/avoidforeclosure/

Spanish: http://www.freddiemac.com/corporate/buyown/spanish/avoiding_foreclosure/

FANNIE MAE: FORECLOSURE & SCAMS

English: http://www.knowyouroptions.com/

Spanish: http://www.knowyouroptions.com/es/home

HOMEOWNERSHIP PRESERVATION FOUNDATION: FORECLOSURE 

http://www.995hope.org/

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: SCAMS

English: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/your-home.shtml

Spanish: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/espanol/your-home.shtml

FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD: FORECLOSURE

http://www.federalreserve.gov/consumerinfo/foreclosure.htm

OFFICE OF THE COMPTROLLER OF THE CURRENCY

http://www.occ.treas.gov/consumernews_foreclosure.htm

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION: 

FORECLOSURE & SCAMS

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/index.html

NEIGHBORWORKS - LOAN MODIFICATION SCAM ALERT

English: http://www.loanscamalert.org/

Spanish: http://www.alertafraudedehipoteca.org/

Chinese: http://www.loanscamalert.org/chinese.aspx

Korean: http://www.loanscamalert.org/korean.aspx

Vietnamese: http://www.loanscamalert.org/vietnamese.aspx

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 12
MAKING HOME AFFORDABLE

Videos:

www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/learning-center/videos/

Outreach materials: 

www.makinghomeaffordable.gov/for-partners/informing-homeowners/Pages/default.aspx

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS AFFAIRS

http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/target_video.asp

http://www.benefits.va.gov/homeloans/alt-foreclosure.asp

FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/prevention/toolkit.html

FREDDIE MAC: FORECLOSURE

Toolkit:

http://www.freddiemac.com/service/msp/avoid_foreclosurekit.html

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION: SCAMS

English: www.ftc.gov/multimedia/video/credit/mortgage/hope-now.shtm

Spanish: www.ftc.gov/multimedia/video/credit/mortgage/hope-now_es.shtm

English: www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/microsites/moneymatters/audio.shtml

Downloadable Audio, Video & Other Print 

Materials

13 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT 

OFFICE OF INSPECTOR GENERAL 

Fraud Hotline: 1-800-347-3735

www.hudoig.gov/hotline/index.php

FEDERAL BUREAU OF INVESTIGATIONS – MORTGAGE FRAUD

www.fbi.gov/hq/mortgage_fraud.htm

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE: UNITED STATES TRUSTEE PROGRAM

www.justice.gov/ust/eo/public_affairs/consumer_info/foreclosure_scams.htm

www.justice.gov/ust/eo/public_affairs/consumer_info/hamp/video.htm

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY: 

FINANCIAL CRIMES ENFORCEMENT NETWORK

www.fincen.gov/foreclosurerescue.html

FINANCIAL FRAUD ENFORCEMENT TASKFORCE

www.stopfraud.gov/

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU

http://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION

English: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/

Spanish: https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/Consumer_HomeES.htm

U.S. GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION: 

CONSUMER PROTECTION

English: www.consumeraction.gov/

Spanish: www.consumidor.gov/

PREVENT LOAN SCAMS – A PROJECT OF THE LAWYERS’ 

COMMITTEE FOR CIVIL RIGHTS UNDER LAW

www.preventloanscams.org/

Where to Report Mortgage, Foreclosure, 

Consumer and Scam Fraud

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 14
Is Foreclosure 

Knocking at 

Your Door?

To order copies, visit: 

 http://vcart.velocitypayment.com/

fdic/index.php?cPath=123

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/

prevention/modification/printable.pdf

Save Your Home

To order copies: 

(800) 767-7468

Reference 8519

http://portal.hud.gov/hudportal/

documents/huddoc?id=fha_

saveyourhome.pdf

SPREAD 

THE WORD 

with EDUCATION

MATERIALS

15 Foreclosure Prevention & Scam Awareness Toolkit
Making 

Home Affordable

https://www.mhastorefront.com

www.makinghomeaffordable.

gov/for-partners/informinghomeowners/Pages/default.aspx

Beware of

Foreclosure 

Rescue Scams

To order copies, visit: 

 http://vcart.velocitypayment.com/

fdic/index.php?cPath=123

http://www.fdic.gov/consumers/loans/

prevention/rescue/images/rescue.pdf

How to Avoid 

Foreclosure

To order copies: 

(800) 767-7468

Reference 4344

http://www.hud.gov/offices/adm/

hudclips/forms/files/pa426h.pdf

Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships 16
Center for Faith-Based 

and Neighborhood Partnerships

451 7th Street, SW

Room 10184

Washington, DC 20410

Tel: 202-708-2404

Fax: 202-708-1160

www.hud.gov/offices/fbci

email: partnerships@hud.gov

REVISED - 2012