Feds warn of mortgage grant assistance scam

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) is warning homeowners facing foreclosure of an up-front-fee scam promising $10,000 in grant assistance.

A group using the names “855LAW5559” and “National Legal Help” has misrepresented that the OCC has directed them to send foreclosure grant review correspondence to consumers.

The OCC has no knowledge of or affiliation with the group responsible for sending the letters and did not direct it to send any letters to consumers.
The letters claim the recipient’s lender is being investigated for wrongdoing by banking regulators. The letters also state that the recipient’s mortgage loan is being reviewed for foreclosure fraud.

Consumers having difficulty making their mortgage payments and anyone who receives a foreclosure notice should immediately contact his or her lender and ask if the letter received is legitimate.

The federal government and legitimate nonprofit organizations offer many programs – at no cost- to help homeowners facing foreclosure. For more information, contact the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (855) 411-2372 or visit the Consumer Finance Protection Bureau website.