You should be aware of these schemes in case someone asks you to participate, or in case you see fraudulent activity. Indicators of potential fraud include the following:

• Someone calling requesting you to cancel mortgage payments and resend the funds elsewhere.
• Using another Veteran’s disability status for property tax exemption.
• Unaccredited VA home loan companies offering services at information fairs may be attempting a scam.
• Someone telling you to make mortgage payments to someone other than your current loan servicer.
• Someone pressures you to sign papers you haven’t had a chance to read thoroughly or that you don’t understand.
• Online scams to get first and last month’s payment up front and yet the property isn’t theirs to rent out and the scammer take your money.
• Home improvement scammers will offer to help fix up your home, ask for payment up front, and may never complete the work or overcharge.

Tips to Avoid Scams

Do’s

• Validate: If you are interested in working with a Veteran Service Organization (VSO), agent, or attorney, use the Office of General Counsel accreditation tool to confirm and validate their credentials.
• Get receipts for any monies paid for services.
• Check with multiple lending institutions for rates and fees.
• Read the fine print.
• Considering an Interest Rate Reduction Refinancing Loan (IRRRL) and refinancing a VA loan? Shop around for lenders, compare no-obligation rate quotes between lenders and against your current loan, and then discuss your options.
• Be cautious of renting from someone inquiring if the VA will pay to fix a rental home.
• Gather information from reputable sources. For example, additional mortgage resources are available from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Don’ts

• Do not pay money for someone to fill out housing assistance applications and recertifications for you. VA provides these services for FREE.
• Do not pay fees before services are provided.
• Do not sign over the title to your property.
• Never give your VA account, Social Security number, or any other government benefits account information such as your username and log-in information during any housing application process.
• Do not give out personal information to a lender or servicer who contacts you out of the blue. Scammers can spoof phone numbers, so you can’t rely on caller identification. If you’re unsure, it’s always safer to hang up and call your loan servicer directly at the number on your mortgage statement.
• Do not allow a friend, family member, or any individual to use your information to get disabled Veteran status for property tax reduction.