Allegations Of "Lawyer Renting" By Loan Modification Outfit Among Charges Currently Under Probe By Florida AG In Five New Investigations

In South Florida, the Sun Sentinel reports:

• The Florida Attorney General's Office has opened five new investigations this year, with four centered in South Florida, involving foreclosure rescue and mortgage modification companies, a key enforcement concern for regulators. Businesses being examined on allegations they took fees upfront for their services, in violation of state law, include: Foreclosure Relief Systems LLC, also doing business as Foreclosure Rescue Services, of Miami and Miami Beach; Pendulum Financial Group, also doing business as Blue Fox Financial, of Plantation; and Lender Forensics LLC, also doing business as National Modification LLC, of North Palm Beach.

• The law offices of Thomas Dvorak, of Fort Lauderdale, are being investigated on allegations an attorney allowed a foreclosure rescue group to operate out of his office under the firm's name [ie. "lawyer renting"], state officials said. Save Our Dream LLC, of Orlando, is being examined for possible violations involving residential foreclosure proceedings.

Source: State investigating five mortgage modification firms (Four of the operations examined are in South Florida).