Beware of Foreclosure Scams and Check Points being set up for Holiday Drunk Driving

Foreclosure scams on the rise








The Neighborhood Housing Services of Orange County, which partners with the City's Family Resource Center, is warning residents to beware of foreclosure scams and to report illegal activity to authorities.



Loan modification scams are proliferating at a rapid pace. Every day, scam artists prey on unsuspecting homeowners who are facing foreclosure in Orange County, according to the organization.



There are six things residents should beware of:



1) A company/person asks for a fee in advance to work with your

lender to modify, refinance or reinstate your mortgage. They may pocket

your money and do little or nothing to help you save your home from

foreclosure.



2) A company/person guarantees they can stop a foreclosure or get

your loan modified. Nobody can make this guarantee to stop foreclosure

or modify your loan. Legitimate, trustworthy HUD-approved counseling

agencies will only promise they will try their very best to help you.



3) A company/person advises you to stop paying your mortgage

company and pay them instead. Despite what a scammer will tell you, you

should never send a mortgage payment to anyone other than your mortgage

lender. The minute you have trouble making your monthly payment, contact

your mortgage lender.



4) A company pressures you to sign over the deed to your home or

sign any paperwork that you haven't had a chance to read, and you don't

fully understand. A legitimate housing counselor would never pressure

you to sign a document before you had a chance to read and understand

it.



5) A company claims to offer "government-approved" or "official

government" loan modifications. They may be a scam artist posing as

legitimate organizations approved by or affiliated with the

government. Contact your mortgage lender first. Your lender can tell you

whether you qualify for any government programs to prevent foreclosure.

Remember that you do not have to pay to benefit from government-backed

loan modification programs.



6) A company/person you don't know asks you to release personal

financial information online or over the phone. You should only give

this type of information to companies that you know and trust, like your

mortgage lender or a HUD-approved counseling agency.



The mission of Neighborhood Housing Services of Orange County is to develop and finance affordable housing and strengthen neighborhoods in partnerships with residents, local government, financial institutions and the business community.



For more information, visit http://www.nhsoc.org/nhsoc-foreclosure-prevention.htm.









Law enforcement out in force this holiday season





As party-goers celebrate the holidays with friends and family, they should heed the "Avoid the 38 DUI Task Force" warning to keep the party off the road or be ready to face the consequences. Law enforcement from every county agency are out in force through the New Year's weekend cracking down on anyone caught drunk behind the wheel.

DUI driver's license checkpoints, Multi-Agency DUI Task Force deployments and local roving DUI patrols are scheduled during the winter holidays.



"The dangers of drinking and driving have been known for many years and the vast majority of people recognize that when they consume alcoholic beverages, they put others at risk if they drive," said Sheriff Sandra Hutchens. "Sadly, a small minority of the public continues to drive under the influence and they threaten the lives of the rest of us on the road."



During last years' more than 2-week Winter Holiday Campaign, 36 people were killed in crashes statewide with a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) of .08 or higher and another 1,168 were injured in alcohol-involved wrecks. In Orange County during that same time period, there were 172 alcohol-related collisions. One person was killed and another 78 people were injured.



According to the Orange County Sheriff's Department, 121 people were arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs over this past weekend, preliminary numbers show.



The public should remember these simple tips for a safe holiday season:



 Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin;

 Before drinking, designate a sober driver;

 If you're impaired, use a taxi, call a sober friend or family member, or use public transportation;

 If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don't hesitate to contact your local law enforcement;

 And remember, Friends Don't Let Friends Drive Drunk. If you know someone who is about to drive or ride while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.



Funding for this operation is provided by a grant from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.



For more information on local and statewide Avoid DUI Task Force campaigns, Enforcement Schedules and Daily DUI Arrest/Fatality statistics, visit www.californiaavoid.org. The program is funded by the California Office of Traffic Safety.















The City of Aliso Viejo, which incorporated July 1, 2001, encompasses approximately 7 square miles with over 46,123 residents. The City's annual budget is roughly $30 million. The City supports a thriving business community with companies such as Pacific Life Insurance Co.; United Parcel Service (UPS); Clarient; Valeant Pharmaceuticals; Q-Logic; Lennar Homes; Buy.Com; Fluor Daniel; Pepsi Bottling, Inc.; Shea Homes; the Renaissance ClubSport Hotel; and Bausch and Lomb. Aliso Viejo has 23 parks, vast open space and top-notch amenities including the Aliso Viejo Ranch and the City's new Conference Center and Aquatic Center. The City of Aliso Viejo welcomes you to "Experience It All." The City is also celebrating 2010 as the Year of the Youth. For more information, visit www.cityofalisoviejo.com.