Monday, June 15, 2009

Nevada AG Announces Indictment Of Two Charged With Theft In Connection With Alleged Loan Modification Scam

From the Office of the Nevada Attorney General:
  • Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto announced [Friday] the indictments of William Vargas and Michael Sinclair, on one (1) felony count of Theft of a Person 60 Years or Older and four (4) felony counts of Theft by Material Misrepresentation, for allegedly operating a foreclosure rescue scam in Las Vegas under the business name of Federal Housing Aid.

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  • The indictment alleges that Vargas and Sinclair operated Federal Housing Aid since February 2007 offering loan modification services to assist victims in avoiding foreclosure on their homes. The Defendants allegedly charged the victims between $899 to $1500 in upfront fees and offered a 100% money back guaranty, claiming their company would refund the money if the foreclosure could not be stopped. [...] After paying for services, it is alleged that the Defendants failed to provide the services paid for and failed to provide refunds as promised in their advertisements.

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  • Collection of fees upfront for services promised for loan modification is in violation of Nevada Revised Statute 645D.400, which makes it unlawful for a mortgage consultant to collect or receive any compensation until after the consultant has fully performed the consulting services that was contracted to perform or represented that would be performed.

For thr entire press release, see Attorney General Announces Indictments In Foreclosure Rescue Scam Case.