The Florida Foreclosure Fraud Weblog
Where Florida homeowners fight back against foreclosure fraud
The Tampa Tribune reports that state regulators have shut down Clear Image Financial Group, a Tampa-area loan modification firm. “We have a lot of people out of work and struggling to keep their homes that are looking for help. Some are paying for services they never get,” said the agency’s Commissioner Tom Cardwell. “It is […]
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Two more loan modification shops are under fire from Florida’s Attorney General Bill McCollum: The lawsuits were filed against south Florida’s Keep Your Property Inc. and Jacksonville-based National Foreclosure Counseling Services Corp. The attorney general’s office alleges that both companies charged up-front fees to customers facing foreclosure. This is against the law in Florida. McCollum […]
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Why CNN is Wrong About Foreclosure Rescue Scams If you’re afraid – and you should be afraid – of getting ripped off by foreclosure rescue scams, you might think that CNN’s advice on how to spot foreclosure prevention rip-offs would be a good place to look. Sadly, you’d be wrong. Here’s why. Their advice is […]
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“We are asking the Court to shut them down.” Another loan-modification shop, this time in conjunction with a law firm, has apparently run afoul of the law. Florida’s Attorney General, Bill McCollum, has sued Florida Foreclosure Law Center LLC and Lincoln Lending Services and said at a press conference: We are asking the court to […]
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Since the passage of Florida’s Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Act, § 501.1377, many operations have been trying to get around the new law by teaming up with attorneys to offer services, in hopes that the attorney’s exemption would shield them from liability. The Florida Bar has called foul. In a just-released Ethics Opinion, the Bar has […]
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Florida AG Bill McCollum has set his sights on an Orlando-area firm offering loan modifications: A local firm offering loan modification services to homeowners facing foreclosure violated a state law that prohibits companies from charging an up-front fee for their services, according a lawsuit filed Feb. 13 by Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum. Among other […]
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Florida Attorney General Bill McCollum has shut down HomeKeeper USA, a Florida company, for violating Florida’s Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act. The attorney general’s office said it investigated the company for four weeks and found it violated the state’s newly-enacted Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act by accepting upfront cash payments for arranging an alternative payment […]
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Imagine facing foreclosure, terrified of losing your home, and then paying hundreds or even thousands of dollars to a company who promised to help you – and then did nothing. Tragically, that scenario is all too real for many Floridians. More and more illegal foreclosure rescue operations are cropping up statewide. These companies charge fees […]
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If you want stricter laws protecting homewoners from predators looking to scam foreclosure victims, then Florida has some good news for you. The state has enacted a new law, effective on October 1, 2008, aimed at equity-skimming and advance-fee fraud schemes designed to steal from Florida homeowners what little money or equity they may have […]
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Want to know more? Contact us at Ricardo & Wasylik, PL.
Want to know more? Contact us at Ricardo & Wasylik, PL.
I have just learned that the Attorney General’s office has taken action today to fix one of the largest flaws in the Foreclosure Rescue Act. I don’t have the exact language, from from what I’ve been told, it uses the “express authority” provision in 501.1377 (2)(b) 2. to authorize certain Florida attorneys to provide foreclosure-related […]
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Ever since word got out about Florida’s new foreclosure rescue fraud law, I’ve gotten feedback from lawyers all over the state. Many agree with me that the new law is a serious problem for homeowners and their attorneys. Others are not so sure. Here are some of the responses I’ve gotten from the “I’m not […]
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Want to know more? Contact us at Ricardo & Wasylik, PL.
Want to know more? Contact us at Ricardo & Wasylik, PL.
Some of you who have been following the issue know that I have mixed feelings about Florida’s new foreclosure rescue fraud law. Although it comes from good intentions, and does some good things, it could have potentially disastrous consequences on homeowners who need lawyers to help them defend foreclosures. Other lawyers are taking notice. Here’s […]
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On May 28, 2008, Florida Governor Charlie Crist signed into law House Bill 643, meant to protect homeowners in foreclosure from falling prey to foreclosure rescue scammers. The law addresses two of the most common type of foreclosure rescue scams in Florida: foreclosure consultant fraud, and foreclosure transaction fraud. Foreclosure consultant fraud The typical foreclosure […]
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