"Know it. Avoid it. Report it." Campaign Seeks to Warn Vulnerable Homeowners about Mortgage Relief Scams and to Report Abuse

WHAT: ?The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will launch an anti-scam campaign entitled Know It. Avoid It. Report It. in Los Angeles on Thursday, April 28, 2011 at 10:30 a.m. The campaign's goal is to inform homeowners who are facing foreclosure, falling behind on their mortgage payments, or simply looking for a lower home loan rate or monthly payment not to fall victim to loan modification scammers and to report suspicious activity.

WHY: ?Foreclosures, mortgage delinquency, unemployment and/or loss of income continue to impact families and communities nationwide. With millions of Americans experiencing loss of income and/or facing possible foreclosure, all of these homeowners are easy prey for mortgage fraud artists. HUD wants to stop these scammers before they continue to take advantage of desperate homeowners.

WHO: ?Ray Brewer, Field Office Director, HUD-Los Angeles

Yolanda McGill, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law

Lori Gay, President and CEO, Los Angeles Neighborhood Housing Services

Joel Ibanez, HUD-National Office

WHEN: ?Thursday, April 28, 2011

Press Event

10:30 a.m. ? 12:00 p.m.

WHERE: The Bank of America Room

Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce

350 South Bixel Street

Los Angeles, CA 90017

Press Contact: Luis Vasquez-Ajmac with MAYA for HUD; (310) 844-5877; Luis@MAYAadvertising.com

Paulette Thornton with MAYA for HUD; (323) 295-0642; Paulette@MAYAadvertising.com

HUD's mission is to create strong, sustainable, inclusive communities, and quality affordable homes for all. HUD is working to strengthen the housing market to bolster the economy and protect consumers; meet the need for quality affordable rental homes; utilize housing as a platform for improving quality of life; build inclusive and sustainable communities free from discrimination; and transform the way HUD does business. More information about HUD and its programs is available on the Internet at www.hud.gov and espanol.hud.gov. ?

/PRNewswire-USNewswire — April 25, 2011/

SOURCE MAYA