As if it's not bad enough that we may fall victim to yet another recession, we also have to worry about falling victim to double-dip scams.
With the economy looking poised to take another nosedive, more folks than ever are dealing with recession-related difficulties - things like getting laid off, losing our homes to foreclosure and struggling to pay the bills. And scam artists are taking full advantage, say Atlanta bankruptcy attorneys. Fraudsters know many of us will do anything to earn a steady paycheck or save our home, including giving them our hard-earned dollars.
Fortunately, there's a way to tell the scams from the real deal.
There are more scams out there than anyone can count, but most have a few things in common.
Take the foreclosure scam. You've probably heard the ads on the radio - a company promises they can save your home from foreclosure. What actually happens is they ask you to turn over the title to your house, then promise to rent you your own home until you save up enough money to buy it back. Of course, that's not how it really works. They generally jack up the rent so much that you can't afford to stay there, let alone buy your property back - assuming they even let you rent in the first place.
Then there's the hiring scam. A so-called employment agency guarantees they'll find you a job in exchange for an upfront fee. But after said payment they give you a few unrelated job leads - or nothing at all - leaving you as jobless as before, but with emptier pockets.
What do both of these scams have in common? Each preys upon our emotions during difficult times and each requires us to give up money or an asset upfront. Be wary of a company that urges you to act fast, or that makes offers that sound too good to be true. And remember that a reputable business should never ask for money upfront.
If you're not sure about the validity of a company's offer, feel free to check out their history with the Better Business Bureau. Meanwhile, you can get free advice on handling debt and stopping foreclosure when you sign up for a complimentarypersonal debt analysis with an Atlanta bankruptcy attorney. Unlike quick-fix scams, bankruptcy can lower debt and help make your finances permanently secure - recession or not.
