Scam Content Index - Page 1

Scams can come in a number of different forms including identity fraud, investment scams, mortgage fraud internet scams, and other types of consumer scams. Read, watch and listen to Think Glink content to learn about the different kinds of scams and how to protect yourself.

**Low Appraisal Caused By Declining Home Values Results In Change To Loan Refinance Terms** If you apply to refinance your loan and get quoted terms, can you force the lender to abide by those terms? What if your property received a low appraisal? What if declining home values caused your home value to drop below what you owe on your current mortgage? And what if you decide not to go forward with the loan refinance, can you get your application money back?

**$8,000 First Time Home Buyer Tax Credit Has Time Requirement** Most people know that the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit will expire at the end of the day on November 30, 2009. Most people know that the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit is only for home buyers that have not owned a home during the p3 years prior to the date of the home purchase and have an income below $75,000, if single, or $150,000, if married. They also might know that the first time home buyer credit can't be taken if your income is above those amounts (it phases out), or if you buy a home from a close relative. Now we get a question from a reader that wants to know if he gets the credit, will he get caught if he does not plan to live in the home as his primary residence for the required 3 years following the purchase.

Debt overload or overboard? A small business owner is facing off with the recession. On one hand, he has to refinance his debt to stay afloat. On the other hand, navigating the complicated waters of small business loans has him confused. A miracle phone call seems to answer all of his needs and provide him with the money he needs to retain his employees. How can you find out if an offer is a scam or if it can truly help save your business?

Taylor Bean and Whitaker Mortgage Company update for September 1, 2009. In Georgia, real estate property tax bills are due today. Thousands of Taylor Bean & Whitaker Mortgage Company customers have not had their homeowners insurance premiums paid in two months. Here is the latest information from Sandra Sheley, director of mortgage supervision with the Georgia Department of Banking and Finance. Story contains additional article links, resources, phone numbers, and websites for more information.

Today on the Ilyce Glink Show, we're talking about how the end of the recession may not make life on Main Street feel like life on Wall Street. There is a new $2 billion Ponzi scheme to watch out for, and New York Times columnist Ben Stein lost his job after taking a job with one of those "free" credit report companies. Listen to the podcast here and [check out the blog](http://www.thinkglink.com/blog/2009/08/09/ilyce-glink-show-notes-august-9-2009) to find out the only real way to get your credit report for free and for more information and links from the show.

Ilyce Glink Show Note updates: We're talking about how the end of the recession may not make life on Main Street feel like life on Wall Street. There is a new $2 billion Ponzi scheme. Ben Stein, takes a job as pitchman for one of those yucky "free credit score" websites and gets fired from the New York Times. We open the ticket window for my new HOW TO PROFIT FROM FORECLOSURES event on October 24th. Get a very special 2 for 1 deal now off the EARLY BIRD SPECIAL. Limited time offer. Use the discount code: glink

Thinking of conducting a house raffle to unload your house instead of selling it? It's illegal for homeowners to raffle off their own house. Instead, you have to work with a nonprofit organization and transfer ownership of the house to them. The nonprofit can then raffle off your house, and you'll get a tax deduction - not cash. Here are more details on house raffles.

Today on the Clark Howard show, we discussed the new unemployment numbers. Ilyce talked about her upcoming How to Profit From Foreclosures event, on October 24th, and mentioned that Clark Howard listeners would get a special 2 for 1 offer on the Early Bird Special. Details of the offer are below. We also have FREE BOOKS and EBOOKS we're giving away. Thanks for listening to Newstalk 750 WSB.

Today Ilyce Glink filled in on the Clark Howard Show. She discussed the latest jobs and unemployment numbers, the importance of having good credit along with how to improve your credit score, and the latest Internet work-from-home scam. Ilyce also took questions about mortgage refinancing and counseling options, like the non-profit organization NACA, FHA loan modifications and streamline modifications, and how to deal with tax liens and collections agencies to clear your name. Ilyce also shared more information about the new program to provide a second interest-free loan to FHA borrowers and down payments programs to help buyers.

The latest scam warning from the BBB is about phony debt collectors. The scammers use personal information like social security numbers to get their victims to wire money under threat of going to jail. The BBB warns that just because they know your info and claim you owe money, doesn't make them legitimate. Find out how to detect if a call is phony and what to do if you get targeted.