This scam campaign involves fraudulent communications targeting homeowners by impersonating Guaranteed Rate Inc., a legitimate mortgage company that has received 767 complaints filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The scammers are using the company's name and branding to create deceptive mail and phone campaigns designed to trick consumers into believing they are being contacted about legitimate mortgage matters.
Community reports reveal that scammers are employing sophisticated tactics, including personalized mailings that contain accurate homeowner information such as county of residence, mortgage closing dates, first and last names, and actual lender names. One report specifically mentions "Guaranteed Rate Affinity - Mortgage Service Center" being used in fraudulent correspondence. The scammers are also conducting phone campaigns, with at least one report indicating they claim to have "been trying to reach you regarding a matter of importance as it relates to your mortgage" while targeting individuals who report never having been previously contacted by the legitimate company.
The campaign shows evidence of targeting homeowners in Missouri, with reports indicating location-specific data being used to enhance the credibility of the fraudulent communications. The use of accurate personal and mortgage information suggests the scammers may have access to data breaches or public records, making their phishing attempts particularly convincing to potential victims.
To protect yourself from this type of mortgage-related fraud, always verify communications by contacting your mortgage servicer directly using official contact information from your loan documents or their official website, rather than responding to unsolicited calls or mail. If you receive suspicious communications claiming to be from Guaranteed Rate Inc. or any mortgage company, hang up on phone calls, do not click any links in emails, and do not respond to mail requests. Report these incidents to the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov or to the Federal Communications Commission for phone-based scams. You can verify whether a phone number or domain is associated with known scams by checking consumer protection databases and searching online for the specific number or company name along with terms like "scam" or "fraud."
This represents a moderate to high-threat campaign due to the use of accurate personal information and impersonation of a legitimate mortgage company. Consumers should remain vigilant about unsolicited mortgage-related communications and always independently verify the authenticity of such contacts through official channels before providing any personal or financial information.