Univision and HUD to Produce TV Phone Bank to Help Homeowners Avoid Mortgage Modification and Refinancing Scams in Spanish

News provided by

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

May 27, 2011, 05:47 ET

WEDNESDAY, 5:00 P.M. PDT

JUNE 1, 2011

LOS ANGELES, May 27, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On June 1st, KMEX CH 34 in Los Angeles will have more than 20 housing counselors come to their studios to answer calls from homeowners concerned about keeping their homes. From 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., these volunteers will be on hand at the TV station in Los Angeles to help homeowners find the answers they need and learn about illegal housing mortgage refinancing/ modification scams. As the counselors listen to their stories, they will also determine if a homeowner has been, or is at risk of being scammed and provide information on how and where to report scams.

This event is part of HUD's recently launched consumer protection campaign called "Know It. Avoid It. Report It." This campaign aims to help Angeleno homeowners better protect themselves from scammers preying on the downturn in the state's housing market. Hispanic and African American homeowners have been especially hard hit. The city has been hit hard by the foreclosure crisis and by predators who seek to profit from their misfortune. Millions of Californians are still underwater in their mortgages, in foreclosure, or at risk of entering foreclosure, and they need to protect themselves. During the telethon, live and pre-recorded cut-ins will be aired to drive that message home.

WHO:	HUD approved housing counselors, and representatives from LA
	Dept. of Consumer Affairs, LA City Housing Department, and California Department of Real Estate

WHAT:	HUD-Sponsored Anti-Scam Phone Bank

WHEN:	Wednesday evening, June 1, 2011 from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. PDT

WHERE:	999 Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90045-8901