The state of Illinois has filed seven new lawsuits against so-called mortgage "rescue" companies and warned consumers about an alarming rise in these scams that prey on vulnerable homeowners on the verge of foreclosure.
"Consumers need to resist offers of a 'rescue,'" Attorney General Lisa Madigan said. "These scam artists prey on desperate homeowners who are struggling to save their homes. I urge consumers to avoid 'rescue' offers and, instead, reach out to trusted sources for help."
In each of the lawsuits, Madigan alleges that con artists targeted homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage payments and promised that -- for an upfront fee -- the scammers could negotiate with the mortgage lenders to reduce the payments and save their homes. However, according to the complaints, after these "consultants" collected the upfront fees, they failed to negotiate or perform any services on behalf of the homeowners, leaving consumers at risk of losing their homes to foreclosure.
This tactic violates Illinois' Mortgage Rescue Fraud Act, which prohibits mortgage rescue companies from requiring payment from consumers prior to completing all the terms of a rescue contract.
The law also requires rescue businesses to fully disclose to a homeowner the exact terms and nature of the proposed rescue services and the homeowner's right to cancel the contract.
Lawsuits were filed against:
• National Foreclosure Counseling Services, 7954 Baymeadows Way, Jacksonville, Fla.
• Foreclosure Solutions, 488 Pine Street, Burlington, Wis.
• Homestead Protection Services, 151 Southhall Lane, Maitland, Fla.
• Home Foreclosure Solutions, 17550 South Williamsburg Drive, Plainfield, Ill.
• Foreclosure Experts, 220 S. State Street, Chicago.
• Mason Capital Group, 18375 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana, Ca.
• StopMyForeclosure.net, 3914 Abbotsford Road, Rockford, Ill.
In each suit, the state is seeking a permanent injunction preventing the defendants from engaging in mortgage rescue. The suit also asks the courts to award restitution to consumers and to order each defendant to pay a civil penalty of $50,000, additional penalties of $50,000 for each act committed with intent to defraud, an additional $10,000 for each act committed against a senior citizen, and costs for the investigation and prosecution of the cases.
Source: consumeraffairs.com
