Thursday May 14, 2020
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Volume 65 | Number 38
www.DesertMobileHomeNews.com
CELEBRATING THE RESIDENTIAL PARK COMMUNITIES FOR 65 YEARS
Mortgage Relief and COVID-19 Scams: What You Need to Know
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nfortunately, during times of hardship, families are often targeted by fraud artists attempting to take advantage of those needing assistance. The COVID-19 crisis is no exception, with many scammers pretending to extend a critical lifeline to struggling homeowners through socalled “foreclosure rescue fraud.” According to Freddie Mac, this scheme involves bad actors offering false promises of being able to save your home from foreclosure. Common elements of this fraud include the following: • Requiring you to sign over the title to your home. • Asking you to sign unfamiliar documents and/or share your personal information. • Charging you rent to stay in your home and/or potentially promising that you can purchase your home back when your financial situation improves. Another common fraud involves a third party guaranteeing you a loan modification with a reduced mortgage payment. Such scams may operate similarly as foreclosure rescue fraud, as fraudsters collect an upfront fee and promise to work with your loan servicer on your behalf. So what can you do to protect yourself?
• During World War II, Coca-Cola wanted soldiers to have a taste of home and opened bottling plants near Europe. However, the soda was synonymous with the States, making it problematic for nonAmericans to be seen drinking it, especially in the Soviet Union
In This Issue
Senior News Line.................................2 Crunchy Dog Biscuits...........................3 Celebrity Extra......................................4 Here to Serve You................................8
• Don’t disclose. Never provide your information via phone or internet until after you have verified the caller or company’s identity. • Be suspicious. If someone has contacted you asking for personal or sensitive information, do your homework to verify the validity of the request before providing any information. Contact your servicer (the company listed on your mortgage statement) and confirm that they called you asking for information. • Spot imposters. Scammers across the globe can make any name or number appear on your caller ID or email. Protect yourself from spoofing by letting calls go to voicemail first. If a call is important, the caller will leave a message. If you do answer and it is a robocall, don’t press any numbers. Just hang up. • Report fraud. Freddie Mac will never reach out to offer a refinancing opportunity or new loan over the phone. If you have been contacted by someone claiming to represent Freddie Mac, you can report it by visiting sf.freddiemac. com/working-with-us/fraud-prevention/feedback. While there are fraudsters out there offering false promises, know that there is real assistance
where it was viewed as a symbol of American imperialism. Soviet Gen. Marshal Georgy Zhukov, a fan who didn’t want to be seen consuming it himself, appealed to the company to make a clear version. A chemist at the Austrian bottling plant obliged by removing the drink’s coloring, after which “White Coke” was bottled in clear glass with a white cap and red star. • Peter Ostrum, who portrayed Charlie Bucket in the original “Charlie and the Chocolate Fac-
1. GEOGRAPHY: The island of Hispaniola is divided into which two countries? 2. U.S. STATES: Which state is known as the Badger State? 3. MEDICAL: Which human organ is involved in the development of diabetes? 4. AD SLOGANS: Which company advises clients to “leave the driving to us”?
on offer during this crisis, too. Contact your loan servicer to discuss your options. If Freddie Mac owns your mortgage and you are a homeowner unable to make you mortgage payments due to a decline in income resulting from COVID-19, you can learn more about available mortgage relief options by visiting MyHome. FreddieMac.com. Your family’s health is no doubt top-of-mind these days. However, it’s also important to remember that fraudsters are out in full-force, making your financial vigilance a crucial priority as well. Article provided by StatePoint.
tory,” declined the offer of a three-picture deal and bought a horse with his movie earnings. His resulting love for animals led him to pursue a career not as an actor, but a veterinarian. • “Jeopardy” fan Cindy Stowell dreamed nearly her entire life of being a contestant on the show. In 2016 she successfully auditioned and became a six-time champion even while battling Stage 4 cancer during filming. Sadly, she didn’t live to see her episodes air, but her
5. MONUMENTS: How long ago was Stonehenge built? 6. ENTERTAINERS: Which singer/actress was born with the name Anna Mae Bullock? 7. COMICS: What kind of dog is Snoopy in the “Peanuts” comic strip? 8. GENERAL KNOWLEDGE: How many official languages does the United Nations have? 9. MEASUREMENTS: How many drops are in a teaspoon? 10. MUSIC: How many members sing in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir? © 2020 King Features Synd., Inc. ANSWER TO TRIVIA ON PAGE 6
$103,000 in winnings was donated to cancer organizations. • A swarm of 20,000 bees followed a car for two days because their queen was inside the vehicle. The insects were removed by a beekeeper after the car was parked, but were back the next day, as the queen was still inside. • The Vatican Bank is the world’s only bank that allows ATM users to perform transactions in Latin. (c) 2020 King Features Synd., Inc.