Police: 2 Women Charged in Mortgage Scam; Cops Warn of More Victims

Photo: Rosaura Hernandez (L) and Tania Ayala. Credit: NCPD

Nassau County Police and lawmakers are warning residents to protect themselves against mortgage scams.

The warning comes days after two women were arrested and charged with stealing more than $90,000 from victims expecting help on mortgages, cops said.

Tania Ayala, 37, of Uniondale, was charged with second- and third-degree grand larceny Sunday after Nassau Detectives said she scammed victims of $64,000. Over the course of five years while working at a realty company, she recommended mortgage modification to two victims, cops said. They sent money orders for mortgage payments and modification fees to a P.O. box belonging to Ayala, who instead used the cash for personal use, police said.

On Wednesday, police also charged Rosaura Hernandez, of Ozone Park, with third-degree grand larceny after she pulled a mortgage modification scam on a victim, cops said. Hernandez allegedly took $10,045 in blank money orders from November 2013 to April 2014 and used the cash for herself. She gave her victim a receipt payable to the financial institution, cops said.

Police are asking anyone who may have been a victim of a similar scam to call the Crimes Against Property Squad at 516-573-5275.

Scammers have been targeting residents searching for loan modifications and released the following tips to guard against becoming a victim:

• Do not sign over the deed to your property to any individual unless you are working directly with your mortgage company.

• You can apply to the federal Making Home Affordable (MHA) program on your own or with free help from a HUD-approved housing counseling agency.
• Contact HOPE hotline at 1-888-995-HOPE (4673) --To find a HUD-approved housing counseling agency near you access HUD’s database for Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling.
• Any company claiming to be affiliated with HAMP or displays a logo representing the U.S. Government can be verified by contacting the HOPE hotline 1-888-995-4673.
• Beware of anyone seeking to charge you in advance for mortgage modification services. In most cases, charging fees in advance of for this service is illegal.
• Paying a third party to assist you with your application does NOT improve the likelihood of receiving a mortgage modification.
• To verify any mortgage company or broker you can use the website: www.NMLSconsumeracces.org or www.DFS.NY.GOV

More headlines from Patch:

Customs: Woman Caught Smuggling Cocaine in Laptop Bag at JFK

Somerville Bicyclist Killed in Medford Crash was Tufts Med Student