RIP-OFF ALERT: There's a new breed of scam popping up all over the country that's targeting our elders. It's called equity stripping or foreclosure rescue, and what it boils down to is people trying to steal your home without a gun. It all starts when you get a flyer or a visitor at your door talking about how they can help you stay in your home and give you money. People desperately want to believe these kinds of lines. They're asked to sign a contract and in doing so sign over ownership of the house.
One criminal ring was recently indicted for stealing over 100 houses in this way. Meanwhile, the FBI has received 60K complaints about equity stripping scams. If you have aging parents, Clark wants you to be nosy and make sure they're not falling for this ploy. You don't want to get a phone call one day and learn your folks are renting or staying with a friend because they lost their home.