Money Smarts Blog

Buying a home is exciting… until the scammy stuff starts showing up.

Right after I closed on my new house, I was hit with all kinds of suspicious emails, weird texts, and official-looking mail that didn’t feel quite right. As someone who works at IHMVCU, I thought I was prepared. But even I was surprised by how quickly the fraud attempts started rolling in.

If you're a new homeowner (or about to be), here’s what I’ve learned. Plus, some super helpful advice from our amazing Mortgage Loan Officer Brook Viktor on how to stay ahead of scammers.

Why new homeowners are an easy target

After closing, your personal information gets shared with a lot of parties – title companies, lenders, utility providers, insurance companies, and more. That’s normal and necessary, but it also means fraudsters have a window of opportunity to swoop in with fake bills, phishing emails, and urgent-sounding texts that feel legit. They know your name, your new address, the fact that you are a new mortgage loan holder… it has to be legit, right? Wrong.

Here are just a few things I saw firsthand:

• A fake utility bill telling me I needed to pay ASAP or my water would be shut off. (Not true!)
• Emails pretending to be from my mortgage company asking me to “verify my loan info.”
• Mail that looked official, saying my deed hadn’t been properly recorded and I owed a fee.

It’s overwhelming, especially when you’re just trying to figure out which box your silverware is in.

Wait… how do scammers even get my info?

Here’s something I didn’t know before going through this: when your credit gets pulled during the mortgage process, that info can be sold by credit bureaus to third-party marketers. It's totally legal – and totally frustrating. These marketers often sell to companies that send out real estate-related offers… but unfortunately, that same info can end up in the wrong hands. IHMVCU has no control over this, and we never sell or share your info like that. But once it’s out there, scammers use the timing and basic details (like your address or the fact that you just closed on a loan) to craft messages that seem legit. It's sneaky and super common.

Expert insight from an IHMVCU Mortgage Loan Officer

When I told Brook what was happening, he wasn’t surprised.

“New homeowners are often focused on settling in and managing the excitement of their purchase, so they might not immediately recognize a scam,” Brook explained. “Fraudsters exploit this by targeting people right after closing, when there’s a lot going on.”

Brook’s advice really stuck with me:

“One of the best defenses is to stay organized and take your time reviewing any bills or requests for information. Don’t be pressured into making quick decisions, legitimate companies won’t rush you.”

Here’s how I’m protecting myself (And how you can, too)

If you’ve recently closed on a home – or will be soon – here are a few simple steps I’ve taken to stay ahead of the scammers:

• Verify everything: If I get an unexpected bill, call, or email, I go straight to the source and use contact info I look up myself. No clicking sketchy links.
• Look for red flags: Bad grammar, high-pressure language, or weird payment methods (hello, gift cards?) are all clear signs something’s off.
• Update and secure all my accounts: I changed my passwords and turned on two-factor authentication wherever I could.
• Monitor my credit: I keep an eye on my credit report and signed up for alerts so I’ll know if anything fishy shows up.
• Shred, shred, shred: Anything with personal info goes straight into the shredder, not the trash.

Brook also told me, “If you’re ever unsure about a communication, don’t hesitate to reach out to your lender or local credit union. We’re here to help you navigate these challenges and protect your investment.”

What I’ve learned about IHMVCU’s real communications

One thing that helped ease my mind? Knowing what legit messages from IHMVCU actually look like. Here’s what to expect:

• Official branding: Our emails and letters include the IHMVCU logo and have a consistent look.
• Clear contact information: You’ll always see our official phone numbers and emails.
• Personalized details: We’ll use your name or account number, not a generic “Dear Member.”
• We never ask for sensitive info via email or text: No passwords, PINs, or full Social Security numbers.
• Secure links: Our URLs will always lead to verified IHMVCU domains. If something looks off, it probably is.
• Legit billing only: We’ll never send surprise bills or ask for additional unexpected payments.
• Direct communication: You’ll only hear from us. We don’t send messages through third parties on our behalf.

If something feels fishy, I don’t hesitate to call our team to double-check, and you shouldn’t either.

Buying a home is one of the biggest and most exciting steps you’ll take. But staying vigilant afterward is just as important. Take it from me – and Brook – a little caution goes a long way in keeping your home, your finances, and your peace of mind safe.

Buying a home is exciting… until the scammy stuff starts showing up.

Right after I closed on my new house, I was hit with all kinds of suspicious emails, weird texts, and official-looking mail that didn’t feel quite right. As someone who works at IHMVCU, I thought I was prepared. But even I was surprised by how quickly the fraud attempts started rolling in.

If you're a new homeowner (or about to be), here’s what I’ve learned. Plus, some super helpful advice from our amazing Mortgage Loan Officer Brook Viktor on how to stay ahead of scammers.

Why new homeowners are an easy target

After closing, your personal information gets shared with a lot of parties – title companies, lenders, utility providers, insurance companies, and more. That’s normal and necessary, but it also means fraudsters have a window of opportunity to swoop in with fake bills, phishing emails, and urgent-sounding texts that feel legit. They know your name, your new address, the fact that you are a new mortgage loan holder… it has to be legit, right? Wrong.

Here are just a few things I saw firsthand:

• A fake utility bill telling me I needed to pay ASAP or my water would be shut off. (Not true!)
• Emails pretending to be from my mortgage company asking me to “verify my loan info.”
• Mail that looked official, saying my deed hadn’t been properly recorded and I owed a fee.

It’s overwhelming, especially when you’re just trying to figure out which box your silverware is in.

Wait… how do scammers even get my info?

Here’s something I didn’t know before going through this: when your credit gets pulled during the mortgage process, that info can be sold by credit bureaus to third-party marketers. It's totally legal – and totally frustrating. These marketers often sell to companies that send out real estate-related offers… but unfortunately, that same info can end up in the wrong hands. IHMVCU has no control over this, and we never sell or share your info like that. But once it’s out there, scammers use the timing and basic details (like your address or the fact that you just closed on a loan) to craft messages that seem legit. It's sneaky and super common.

Expert insight from an IHMVCU Mortgage Loan Officer

When I told Brook what was happening, he wasn’t surprised.

“New homeowners are often focused on settling in and managing the excitement of their purchase, so they might not immediately recognize a scam,” Brook explained. “Fraudsters exploit this by targeting people right after closing, when there’s a lot going on.”

Brook’s advice really stuck with me:

“One of the best defenses is to stay organized and take your time reviewing any bills or requests for information. Don’t be pressured into making quick decisions, legitimate companies won’t rush you.”

Here’s how I’m protecting myself (And how you can, too)

If you’ve recently closed on a home – or will be soon – here are a few simple steps I’ve taken to stay ahead of the scammers:

• Verify everything: If I get an unexpected bill, call, or email, I go straight to the source and use contact info I look up myself. No clicking sketchy links.
• Look for red flags: Bad grammar, high-pressure language, or weird payment methods (hello, gift cards?) are all clear signs something’s off.
• Update and secure all my accounts: I changed my passwords and turned on two-factor authentication wherever I could.
• Monitor my credit: I keep an eye on my credit report and signed up for alerts so I’ll know if anything fishy shows up.
• Shred, shred, shred: Anything with personal info goes straight into the shredder, not the trash.

Brook also told me, “If you’re ever unsure about a communication, don’t hesitate to reach out to your lender or local credit union. We’re here to help you navigate these challenges and protect your investment.”

What I’ve learned about IHMVCU’s real communications

One thing that helped ease my mind? Knowing what legit messages from IHMVCU actually look like. Here’s what to expect:

• Official branding: Our emails and letters include the IHMVCU logo and have a consistent look.
• Clear contact information: You’ll always see our official phone numbers and emails.
• Personalized details: We’ll use your name or account number, not a generic “Dear Member.”
• We never ask for sensitive info via email or text: No passwords, PINs, or full Social Security numbers.
• Secure links: Our URLs will always lead to verified IHMVCU domains. If something looks off, it probably is.
• Legit billing only: We’ll never send surprise bills or ask for additional unexpected payments.
• Direct communication: You’ll only hear from us. We don’t send messages through third parties on our behalf.

If something feels fishy, I don’t hesitate to call our team to double-check, and you shouldn’t either.

Buying a home is one of the biggest and most exciting steps you’ll take. But staying vigilant afterward is just as important. Take it from me – and Brook – a little caution goes a long way in keeping your home, your finances, and your peace of mind safe.