Friday, September 12, 2008

Illinois Feds Charge Man In Alleged Refinance Scam, Used Land Trust In Purported Foreclosure Rescue, Say Authorities

In McHenry County, Illinois, the Daily Herald reports:
  • Federal authorities Wednesday took over the case against a Lake Barrington Shores man accused of scamming the elderly and the unsuspecting out of their homes and property. In the process, the feds added numerous accusations against Charles H. Landwer Jr., 45, alleging he preyed on no fewer than 17 people, taking a total of $2.4 million in assets.

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  • Federal authorities did not itemize Landwer's alleged swindles, but detailed one Kendall County scheme in which Landwer, using his company Accurate Financial Group of Bloomingdale, led a pair of Yorkville homeowners to believe that he was helping them refinance their home to avoid foreclosure. Landwer then convinced them the home needed to be put in trust while he worked out the financing with the mortgage holder. In fact, the complaint alleges, Landwer controlled the trust and then transferred the home to his name before refinancing it and trying to take out $230,000 in equity.

For more, see Lake Barrington man led massive swindle, feds say.