Predatory lenders often take advantage of the elderly, especially those who need cash from their homes right away to pay a medical bill or make a substantial repair. They count on borrowers having less understanding of financial and legal terms and typically fail to disclose information or give false and misleading information to potential borrowers. They might inflate the costs based on your credit rating or have fees that are much higher than the overall market. One sign of a predatory lender is offering to flip your current mortgage into one with a higher interest rate and fees. Beware of offers via the mail or telemarketing. Don’t believe over-the-top promises or allow the lender to rush you through disclosures and signing of paperwork. Never sign a document with blanks to be filled in later, and take a trusted friend or family member along to meetings and the closing who can observe and support the process without the emotional attachment to the home or funds from the refinance.