Ward 6 Las Vegas Councilman Steven D. Ross will join with the Nevada Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce at a press conference to kick off the Month of Prevention Campaign to Stop Foreclosure Fraud. The press conference on Tuesday, Aug. 17, at 10:30 a.m. at the Historic Fifth Street School Auditorium, 401 S. Fourth St., will highlight the foreclosure fraud problem and where to get legitimate help. A new website, StopNVForeclosures.org, which offers foreclosure prevention counseling, will be highlighted along with a series of other activities aimed at helping Nevadans steer clear of unscrupulous businesses that target those facing foreclosure. The city of Las Vegas designed the website to provide borrowers the opportunity to complete a short online form and request assistance from a local HUD approved housing counselor. This website, which will go live tomorrow, was made possible through a grant from Fannie Mae. 

“The wave of foreclosures continues to hit our community hard, especially in Ward 6,” Councilman Ross said. We want to do everything we can to help people hurt by this crisis to access assistance early and avoid being victimized by the fraudulent businesses that prey on them.”

The Nevada Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce is comprised of local non-profit housing counselors, top officials from the Attorney General’s Office, the city of Las Vegas, county and state government agencies, local and national banks, local real estate professionals, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), Fannie Mae, the Federal Reserve Bank (FRB) of San Francisco; the Nevada Bankers Association (NBA) and others. 

“Fannie Mae was more than willing to offer guidance and share any expertise that supported the city’s efforts to develop a foreclosure prevention website," said Jeff Hayward, Fannie Mae’s senior vice president, National Servicing Organization. "Foreclosure prevention is a key component necessary to help stabilize America’s neighborhoods, and this website will serve as another valuable tool in the foreclosure prevention arsenal that offers distressed homeowners information on real and viable solutions."                                 

The Nevada Foreclosure Prevention Taskforce advises: 

• Don’t fall for promises that are too good to be true.
• Many scams look official. 
• Get help for free from a local HUD approved housing counseling agency.

Those facing foreclosure can also call (702) 229-HOME (4663) or visit www.fightfraud.nv.gov .
.