The following is a news release from the Consumer Affairs Project of Inland Counties regarding fraudulent operations that have been charging residents thousands of dollars for loan modification advice and other financial guidance:
The PATHS program is a FREE program intended to assist consumers by providing access to free legal assistance, foreclosure intervention aid, homeowner education and financial literacy clinics. These services are intended to assist consumers within San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial Counties. The program is in high gear and assisting hundreds of consumers with a variety of issues.
CAPIC has seen a huge increase in Foreclosure Fraud Scams. Many of these companies say they can get a change to your loan that will reduce your monthly mortgage payment or take other steps to save your home. Some claim that nearly all their customers get successful results and even offer a money-back guarantee. Many people have lost thousands of dollars through these scams.
The scam artists tell you that if you pay them a fee, they’ll negotiate a deal with your lender to reduce your mortgage payments or to save your home. They may claim to be attorneys or represent a law firm. They may tell you not to contact your lender, lawyer, or credit counselor.
They promise to handle all the details once you pay them a fee. Then they stop returning your calls and take off with your money. Sometimes phony counselors insist you make your mortgage payments directly to them while they negotiate with the lender. They may collect a few months of payments – and then disappear.
Lynne Anderson, Executive Director Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board, said, “We have heard of several new scams, perpetuating real hardships so we wanted to warn people through our new marketing campaign that really speaks to people”. The PATHS program hopes to be running Public Service Announcements on several radio stations and will be producing two 60-second commercials based on a family with similar issues as the consumers. “We are hopeful that if consumers hear real life stories they will be compelled to give us call, because all of our services are free”. All of the CAPIC members are non-profit HUD approved.
To contact CAPIC immediately through their website iepaths.org or call 1-800-321-0811 ext. 189.
CAPIC received an $850,000 grant award from Attorney General Kamala D. Harris through the National Mortgage Settlement Grant Program to help families affected by the foreclosure crisis as renters, homeownership seekers and/or current and past homeowners. “The foreclosure crisis has inflicted wide-ranging and deep harm to California homeowners and communities,” said Attorney General Harris. “These grants will give homeowners and families the financial and legal tools they need to recover.”
ABOUT INLAND FAIR HOUSING AND MEDIATION BOARD
Inland Fair Housing and Mediation Board (IFHMB) is a private, non-profit, HUD Approved Housing Counseling Agency that has served the Inland Empire for more than 30 years. IFHMB provides counseling, receives and responds to consumer complaints, educates consumers in the areas of fair housing, mobile home, senior-related needs, first-time home purchase, and default and foreclosure, as well as provides landlord and tenant, alternative dispute resolution, and pre-litigation mediation services. The organization’s main office is located in Rancho Cucamonga, with satellite offices in San Bernardino, Barstow, Victorville, Indio, and El Centro. Services are available in both English and Spanish. For more information on IFHMB call 1-800-321-0911, email [email protected], or visit ifhmb.com.
ABOUT INLAND COUNTIES LEGAL SERVICES
Inland Counties Legal Services(ICLS) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation founded in 1958, serving Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, providing a full range of legal services in civil cases including Housing, Landlord/Tenant, Foreclosure Prevention, Consumer Legal Issues, Public Benefits, Family Law, Domestic Violence and Human Trafficking. ICLS, pursues justice and equality for low income people through counsel, advice, advocacy and community education, treating all with dignity and respect. ICLS has branch offices in Riverside, Indio, Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino and Victorville and operates the Housing Law Services Center which serves both counties. Funds from the Legal Services Corporation (LSC), are sub-granted to Riverside Legal Aid, Legal Aid Society of San Bernardino and Inland Empire Latino Lawyers Association who in-turn provide pro-bono civil legal services using a network of local volunteer attorneys in their respective portions of San Bernardino and Riverside Counties. For more information call (951) 368-2583 or visit inlandlegal.org.
ABOUT FAIR HOUSING COUNCIL OF RIVERSIDE COUNTY, INC.
Fair Housing Council of Riverside County, Inc. (FHCRC) formed in 1986 and incorporated in 1993 is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that fights to protect the fair housing rights & needs of all individuals throughout Riverside County. This HUD approved counseling Agency, works alongside federal, state, and local offices to ensure Fair Housing laws are upheld. For more than 26 years, under the strategic direction of a Board of Directors and Staff, FHCRC provides fair housing (anti-discrimination) education, outreach, identification, counseling and referrals, landlord/tenant mediation, foreclosure prevention/loss mitigation workshops, first time homebuyer education and shelter diversion counseling/services.
The Agency’s main office is located in Riverside, California with satellite offices in the cities of Moreno Valley, Palm Springs, and Corona (Thursdays only). Services are available in both English and Spanish. For more information on FHCRC call 1-800-655-1812, email: [email protected], or visit fairhousing.net.
