INTERACTIVE MAP: 'Quick Credit' and 'Foreclosure Rescue': Searching for Signs of Deception

PUBLISHED 5:09 PM | 18 Feb 2010

You’ve probably seen them -- hand-drawn signs advertising credit repair, foreclosure rescue or quick cash. They are signs of this recession, posted by Hard Times Profiteers seeking to capitalize on the financial misfortune of others, and we need your help documenting them.

The Investigative Fund has begun collecting photographs of these signs in the Washington, D.C. area. Have you spotted similar signs in your neighborhood, or on your way to work? Help us by sending us your own photos using the form below. You can also e-mail photos to inbox@huffpostfund.org -- please be sure to include the location of the sign (street, city and state) and your name so we can give you credit. We'll post them on the map below, along with some personal stories of real estate schemes shared by our readers. If you've been a victim, help us investigate by sharing your own story.

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CREDITS: Todd Holden, Amanda Zamora, Ben Protess and Lagan Sebert
  • TYPES OF SIGNS
  • Real Estate
  • Credit Repair
  • Other
  • Personal Stories
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EDITOR'S NOTE: The stories featured in this map were submitted by readers of the Huffington Post Investigative Fund and have been edited for grammar and brevity, and in some cases privacy; their content has not been independently verified by the Investigative Fund.

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Have you been caught up in a real estate or other scheme? Do you know someone who has? Please send us your tips.

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If you don't have a personal story but are still interested in participating, you can sign up with our citizen assignment desk for updates on future projects.

Resources

Government Web sites aimed at helping consumers avoid predatory schemes:
» FTC: Deceptive Mortgage Ads
» HUD Foreclosure Avoidance Counseling
» FBI: Avoiding Mortgage Fraud
» HAMP: Avoiding Rescue Scams

Share tips and links with us on Twitter using the tag #recession, or follow us @huffpostfund.