DAVIS COUNTY—It used to be the biggest scam most people worried about was finding an email from a wealthy Nigerian prince who was simply looking to share his immense fortune. Over the years, as technology has advanced, and the average person has become more and more savvy to scams, the methods employed by the dishonest have changed, evolved, and become more difficult to detect.

Scammers will still target vulnerable populations, and while in the late 90s and early 2000s that may have been just the elderly, their net has widened to include many age groups. One such population they have hit hard, however, is new homeowners, and it’s worth reporting on just a few of the ways that people will try and take the money of this population.

Buying a home is a huge step and one that, in today’s economy, is harder and harder to make. Exorbitant home prices, unattainable interest rates, and lack of homes themselves all contribute to fewer and fewer homes being sold. This sets up first-time home buyers as prime targets: they’ve never owned a home before, and they have just been saddled with a whole slew of new payments. Not to mention, since fewer people are buying homes, it places a real target on their backs, there’s no pack in which to hide.

Of these new payments, perhaps the most important is the monthly mortgage. Many new homeowners are already familiar with large monthly payments as they’ve been paying rent up until owning. However, they’re often paying to a completely new entity (a lender, or mortgage company), and these lenders can change throughout a 30-year mortgage. It can be extremely confusing. The important key to avoiding mortgage scams is communication.

Most lenders and mortgage companies will be sure to point out the official channels of communication to their clients, whether that be email, in-person visits, phone calls, etc. What scammers will do is send communication that may look official, but is in no way, shape or form connected with the real lender. These letters will often claim that a payment has been missed, and unless it is made immediately, the homeowner will default on the loan, making the stakes extremely high.

The key to avoiding this scam, as with any other, is communication. Speaking with a lender or mortgage company before making any sort of payment based on this letter or email can help avoid a costly mistake that is unlikely to be resolved. It’s important to know the names of the people who have worked with the homeowner in the past as well because scammers have really stepped up their game when it comes to fake phone calls.

It’s happened to many people: a call from an unknown number comes through, and either it is left unanswered, or, it stops ringing almost immediately. Then, there’s a voicemail. On the recording, after a brief whine (which, nine times out of 10, can tip a person off that it’s a prerecorded line), a casual, friendly-sounding person will introduce themselves, often by only their first name. 

These people say that they’re calling in regard to something they had previously spoken with the homeowner about, usually interest rates, or a better loan, and that they’re simply returning the call. They give a callback number or email and encourage follow-up. It’s not a robot voice anymore, nor is it someone from a call center in a foreign country. It sounds totally convincing, except, it’s 100% a scam.

In addition to the high-pitched whine before anyone starts speaking, if it sounds to the homeowner unlike anyone they’ve spoken with before or anything they’ve spoken to about, then they’re probably right. As with the mortgage scams, the best practice is always to speak with someone who is familiar first and check, before making any payments. 

Finally, there are the home warranty scams. A home warranty can be an extremely valuable tool: for a reasonable annual fee, homeowners can get many things in their homes fixed or replaced for the price of a simple copay. It makes sense, therefore, that scammers would prey on new homeowners looking to renew their warranty. 

These scammers will again, send letters or make phone calls to homeowners saying that their warranty is about to expire and that they should renew it, or be without that extra safety net. These phone calls are littered with official-sounding language and often the word “renew,” making the homeowner think they’re getting the best deal possible. In reality, these scammers will use very specific words and phrases to skirt the law, making new homeowners pay through the nose without the possibility of a refund.

The best thing to look for in these instances is official names and logos from the existing warranty. Often, a warranty company will only send communication through approved channels, or through the account associated with the warranty. If a letter comes to a home and looks official, a homeowner must check with their warranty provider first before calling the number on the letter or making any payments. 

As much as people would like to be trusting, and believe that others have their best interests at heart when it comes to homeownership, and the hefty price tags that come with it, a healthy dose of skepticism can go a long way. Even a simple phone call or email to the right people can save thousands of dollars up front, and a lot of stress later on.