Swindled by a Sweetheart

Recently, I wrote a column on a report by the The National Consumers League warning people about sweetheart scams, "Online, Dear Valentines, The Wolves Talk of Love" (Feb. 14).

In 2007, lovesick victims lost on average $3,000 , according to complaints logged at the center's Web site.

The warning from the League made me wonder about people who weren't scammed, but whose money and love were swept away by some gold digger or gigolo.

If your honey ran away with your money, tell your story and perhaps some others might avoid breaking their bank in the quest for love. Send your tales to: colorofmoney@washpost.com. In the subject line, please put "Sweetheart Swindle."

Where's the Compassion?

As I continue to write about the mortgage mess, I'm struck by the lack of compassion many people have for the folks facing foreclosure or who have already lost their homes.

In a recent column, "King's Dream Deferred, One More Victim of the Subprime Mortgage Crisis" (Feb. 10), I discussed a report that concluded, "subprime borrowers of color will lose between $164 billion and $213 billion for loans taken in the past eight years."

Here's what some people had to say about the report by United for a Fair Economy:

"Many of the folks in this subprime mess chose not to control themselves even with reliable information right in front of them. The backbone of not being taken advantage of by predatory lenders - or any predator for that matter - includes knowledge/education and controlling greed or lust for things that go down in value," wrote Stephanie Whitney of Los Angeles County, Calif.

"I generally like your columns, but this one is racist and blames mainstream America for the woes of blacks," wrote Patrick Murphy of Midlothian, Va. "No doubt the largest socioeconomic group affected by subprime lending are blacks. But you fail to give examples of any trickery, deceit and 'guns held to the heads' of the borrowers. Which part of their walking into a mortgage office is someone else's fault? Signing papers to get an 'innovative' loan which enables them to buy a house?"

"Actually the lenders and those who bought the securitized mortgages have lost the billions, [homeowners] lost only what they didn't have," said Gordon White of Deltaville, Va. "But the subprime homebuyers who have been foreclosed on, in most cases, couldn't afford the home in the first place. They didn't make much, if any, downpayment, so what have they lost? Come on, they probably paid what amounted to rent on those homes. Granted, they are unhappy, but if they could have afforded the homes most would still be in them."

Others agreed with White, arguing that if people didn't put any money down on their homes then any equity built up or which disappeared because of current market conditions wasn't theirs to cry over when lost. But wouldn't that be true for all homeowners whose equity surpasses any downpayment or payments they've made? Absent any appraisal fraud, subprime borrowers have as much right to mourn the loss of any equity as any other homeowners.