To fall prey to mortgage fraud is to feel victimized and helpless. People put their trust, and finances, in the wrong hands, only to find out later they were being scammed. Victims will often blame themselves while asking, “How could I have been so naïve?” You can help them through this crisis. As a victim service provider, you can show victims the situation is not hopeless and empower them to take action.
To help minimize the traumatic experience, the National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) recommends using a compassionate approach to help victims find effective solutions.
Compassionate assistance includes:
- Showing compassion and respect for the victims who have been scammed
- Actively listening
- Being sensitive to the victim’s concerns
- Taking it slow, as victims are still in a state of shock from the situation
- Connecting the victim to authorities and agencies that can offer assistance
NCPC is ready to help. We encourage real estate professionals, attorneys, housing counselors, law enforcement officials, mortgage lenders, and other victim service providers to access the free tools available in the Mortgage Fraud Toolkit. Armed with new tools and knowledge, we can help you better prepare for mortgage fraud prevention and protection services.
Source NCPC.org
Comments