What should I know about prescreened mortgage offers in the mail?
Short answer
A mortgage application can trigger competing 'prescreened' or 'preapproved' offers. The FTC says those mailers can be used to compare terms, but they should be read carefully. Not every mailer is a real prescreened offer, and government-looking symbols are not proof that an agency sent it.
Full explanation
The FTC says applying for a mortgage may prompt competing offers of credit, often labeled prescreened or preapproved. Those offers can be used to compare loan terms. The FTC also points to a way to stop future prescreened mail.
Read each piece carefully and confirm who sent it, even if it looks like it came from the current mortgage company or from the government. Not every mailer is a prescreened offer. The FTC says some dishonest businesses use pictures such as the Statue of Liberty, or other government names and symbols, to suggest an official program.
If a mailer names a government agency and that is a concern, contact that agency using contact information from USA.gov, not from the mailer alone. This explanation does not rate any particular mail offer.
Sources reviewed
Shopping for a Mortgage FAQs
Last reviewed
September 10, 2026