Watch out for scams if you’re looking for a HARP refi 

The new Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) could be a big opportunity for people who want to refinance their homes.

Unfortunately, it could also be a big opportunity for scammers.

The Better Business Bureau is warning consumers to be on the lookout for scams targeting people looking to use HARP.

“Whenever there is a new or updated government program that may be a bit confusing, scammers come out of the woodwork to take advantage of that confusion,” said Katherine Hutt, spokesperson for the Council of Better Business Bureaus, in a news release. “There are already hundreds of websites claiming to be able to help homeowners through the HARP process, but many of them are rip-offs and scams.”

My biggest warning is to watch out for any company or person who asks you for upfront fees. If that happens, move on – quickly. We’ll talk about what other things to watch out for on this Sunday’s Saving Thousands! with Robert Palmer show.

The feds have been cracking down on mortgage scams lately, shutting down more than 125 scammers who were using deceptive internet ads to lure people looking to avoid foreclosure. In many cases, the companies were asking for upfront fees for services that were never going to be provided.

While new HARP rules may make it easier for you to refinance, there’s a new rule that may make it tougher for you to get a credit card. It used to be that banks and credit card companies considered your household income when you applied for a card. Now they’ll use your individual, personal income when you apply for a card. This may make things tougher for stay-at-home parents or non-working spouses. The person earning a paycheck can list that person as a secondary cardholder, but that can be a problem if the relationship falls apart.

Tune in Sunday at 11 am on FM 96.5/AM 580 - WDBO and learn how to Save Thousands! Our new FM signal means people as far north as Palm Coast, as far south as Vero Beach and as far west as Dade City and Ocala are now tuning in and Saving Thousands!

Also, take a minute and check out ourFacebook page.