Watch Out: Bad Economy Means More Money Scams

We’ve been following email scams on SavvyWallet these past few weeks, and recently came across an article in the LA Times about the proliferation of money scams.

The Consumerist did a great job summarizing what you should look out for:

• Credit Repair: The Times says that the FTC has taken action on 70% (!) of companies that promise to repair your credit and have not yet found one that can actually “fix” truthful information on your credit report.

• Foreclosure Rescue: This is a nasty scam. The scammers advertise with messages like, “We can save your home. Guaranteed.”  The scammer then either tries to swindle you out of your mortgage payments in exchange for “negotiating with your lender” or they trick you into signing over the title to your home.  Here’s some more information about this scam and how to avoid it.

• Hidden Bankruptcy: Bankruptcy is one option that is open to you, but it has serious consequences to your credit that you should consider before going ahead with it.  Watch out for ads that claim to “Consolidate your bills into one monthly payment without borrowing.”  This is can be a secret code for bankruptcy.

• Free Lunch: Anyone offering you a free lunch for attending an “information” session is probably full of crap.  If their investments are so good… why are they selling them to you!?  The Times says that an SEC report said that “about half the seminars it attended featured misleading claims, and 13% appeared to be engaging in outright fraud.”

• Home-based Businesses: Run.  Away.  Never pay a fee to start a home based business, however wonderful it may sound.  Scammers will tell you that doctors need sub-contractors to stuff envelopes or help process their accounts.  They might try to tell you that you can make money starting a website, or assembling crafts.  They’ll charge a fee to set you up, and it’s usually pretty hefty.  After you’ve paid your money, you’re on your own. “Few consumers,” the FTC said in a warning statement, “are able to find clients, start a business and generate revenues.”

Word of advice: If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.  If not, research it and see what other people are saying about it.  If you trust your sources, you can trust their judgement.  Just be careful.

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