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Mortgage Fraud Blog is the premier website for news and information on mortgage fraud and real estate fraud throughout the United States.
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 Rachel Dollar, the editor of Mortgage Fraud Blog, is an attorney and Certified Mortgage Banker who handles litigation for lending institutions and secondary market investors. She is an author and a nationally recognized speaker on the topic of mortgage fraud. Ms. Dollar is a shareholder with the law firm of Smith Dollar, PC, is licensed to practice law in California and maintains offices in Santa Rosa, California. Email Ms. Dollar
Mortgage Fraud Blog is co-sponsored by Interthinx the leading provider of fraud services and solutions for the mortgage industry.
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California Company Sued for Foreclosure Rescue Fraud
21st Century Legal Services, Inc., a California company providing loan modification services to homeowners facing foreclosure has been charged with charging consumers up-front fees in violation of Florida's Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act.
The complaint alleges that, after initial contact is made with a homeowner, the company arranges for a "company representative" to visit the consumer at home. These representatives are, in fact, local notaries hired by the company to travel to the consumer's home and execute the necessary sales agreements. The lawsuit states that the company instructed the notaries not to provide consumers with a copy of the written agreements, in direct violation of Florida law.
According to the Attorney General Bill McCollum's lawsuit, the corporation solicited loan modification services to Florida homeowners by telephone, mail and internet marketing. An investigation conducted by the Attorney General's Economic Crimes Division revealed that 21st Century Legal Services charges an up-front fee as high as $2,500 to homeowners seeking loan modification services. Additionally, consumers have complained that the company has not performed the promised services and that consumers are unable to get refunds.
Other states have sued 21st Century Legal Services, and the FBI raided several of the company's California offices in mid-September. The Attorney General's lawsuit requests full restitution for affected homeowners and civil penalties of up to $15,000 per violation. The Attorney General's Office is also seeking a court order permanently prohibiting 21st Century Legal Services from further violations of Florida law.
Posted by on 02/05/10 at 12:24 AM
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Some Sources require Registration.
Marco Island Man Arrested in Ohio on Grand Theft Charge
Naples News
A man who claimed he was a broker is accused of bilking a long-time family friend out of more than $130,000.
Failed Mortgage Firm Trustee Allowed $50,000 in Fees
Union Leader
U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge J. Michael Deasy will approve $50,000 in legal fees for the trustee of failed mortgage brokerage businesses Financial Resources Mortgage Inc. and CL&M Inc.
Bend Oregon Event to Help Homeowners Prevent Foreclosures
Oregon.Gov
As part of an ongoing effort to help homeowners avoid foreclosure, state agencies are organizing a foreclosure-prevention event in Bend on Saturday, March 27, 2010.
Shelbyville Man Gets 2-Year Sentence For Loan Fraud
Chattanoogan.Com
Prosecutor Gary Humble said the lost was approximately $2.3 million in the mortgage fraud involving hundreds of homes in the Shelbyville area.
Lend America, VP Ashley Banned from FHA
Housing Wire
Michael Ashley, the embattled former vice president of Federal Housing Administration (FHA)-backed mortgage originator Lend America, and the company he worked for, were permanently banned from doing business in the industry last week.
Countrywide Tries to Pin Blame on Insurer
Court House News
Countrywide Home Loans demands $111 million from Triad Guaranty Insurance, claiming Triad is trying to blame mortgage lenders for the insurer's role in the housing bubble and collapse.
Investors Say They Were Swindled in Property Scheme
Fox 13 Now
Utah Division of Consumer Protection is joining forces with a few investors who claim they have been cheated by an agency called "Utah Mini Ranches.
Greenfield Man Accused of Housing Scam
The Republic
A former real estate agent conned at least eight people by renting them properties actually owned by a federal agency and then running off with their deposits, prosecutors said.
Appraisal Institute Opposes Obama Administration's Plan for Homeowner 'Short Sales'
PR News Wire
Citing concerns about increased mortgage fraud, four organizations representing more than 35,000 real estate appraisers today voiced their opposition to changes to an Obama administration program that will encourage "short sales" of homes.
Ownership Rights to Get Another Look
TBO.Com
State lawmakers may beef up protections of property owners' rights by rewriting a law this spring that is at the center of a case of alleged fraud in Pasco County.
Previous Articles
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Trial coverage provided by Anne Mitchell, Crazy Fish Realty.
Follow Anne on Twitter.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
F. Jeffrey Miller Trial - 1 Convicted, 3 Acquitted
The jury deliberated for approximately 3 days after receiving their jury instructions. They asked one question:
Does ‘common sense' allow us to deduce what the banks may or may not been influenced by in order to make a loan?
Judge Julie Robinson responded by admonishing the jurors to read all of the instructions.
The jury presented its' verdict... Read More...
Thursday, February 18, 2010
F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Continued Testimony
As reported by Anne Mitchell, who viewed the trial:
Angela Parenza worked for Jeff Miller as the office manager for 7 or 8 years beginning in 1998. Parenza was indicted along with Miller and pled guilty to conspiracy to commit bank fraud and money laundering. Parenza testified that Miller or his contractors allegedly preferred to build all the... Read More...
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage Continued - Witness Testimony
Steve Middleton Testimony - Coverage Provided by Anne Mitchell
The Government continued in its cross examination of Steve Middleton. He was shown several HUD-1 statements involving sales of homes located in Overland Park, KS, and Olathe, KS. The HUD statements each allegedly showed line items of payments to (James) Moser & Associates, LLC's... Read More...
Monday, February 01, 2010
F. Jeffrey Miller Trial Coverage - Continued Witness Examination
According to Anne Mitchell, who is present in court for the trial:
Next Witness: Kelly Sanford
Kelly Sanford of the Federal Reserve was a short witness for the Government. Sanford manages electronic payments between banks and member financial institutions. He was shown copies of wire transfers and asked whether they coincided with the counts in... Read More...
Wednesday, January 27, 2010
F. Jeffrey Miller Trial - Prosecution Witnesses Continued
According to Anne Mitchell, who is viewing the trial:
January 13, 2010
Witness: Rick Hayes
Rick Hayes testified that on the day that he closed on his Miller Enterprise home, he received a phone call from the Kansas Banking Commission informing him that his loan was fraudulent. After the Hayes responded to a classified ad, they met with John...
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