TALLAHASSEE, FL – August 24, 2009 – (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Bill McCollum sued a Kissimmee-based company over allegations it targeted Hispanics in a foreclosure rescue fraud scheme. JPB Consulting Inc. and its president, Juan P. Bordali, allegedly charged up front fees of more than $1,000 per customer to homeowners about to lose their homes, but never performed any services. Charging fees up front before completing foreclosure rescue services is a direct violation of Florida’s Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act.
“Preying on people about to lose their homes and tricking them into believing that genuine help is being offered is cause for outrage” said Attorney General McCollum.
An investigation conducted by members of the Attorney General’s Economic Crimes Division, working as part of the Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force, determined that JPB Consulting and Bordali marketed the company’s services primarily to those in the Hispanic community using posters and signs in neighborhood stores and flyers handed out on sidewalks and street corners. The company also used radio and TV ads to solicit clients.
According to the lawsuit, unsuspecting consumers were charged up front fees ranging from over $1,000 to $3,500 and were promised foreclosure relief. No foreclosure rescue services or loan modifications were performed by defendants. The Attorney General’s investigation further revealed the company was advised by a law firm in February that it was acting in violation of the law, but the company continued to collect the illegal up-front fees.
The Attorney General’s Office knows of over 30 victims, but believes the company may have hundreds of clients. JPB Consulting, Inc. is also known as JB Consulting, which sometimes does business under the name “Mortgage Modification Solutions.”
The Attorney General’s lawsuit asks for the company’s dissolution and requests the defendants be permanently barred from charging up-front fees and failing to provide services. The lawsuit also seeks civil penalties of $15,000 per violation, full victim restitution, and reimbursement for the cost of the state’s investigation and litigation. Consumers can file complaints about this company by calling the Attorney General’s fraud hotline at 1-866-966-7226 or by visiting http://www.myfloridalegal.com/mortgagefraud.
A copy of the lawsuit is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7V5JH7/$file/JPBComplaint.pdf
An affidavit is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7V5H7X/$file/JPBAffidavit.pdf and an affidavit in Spanish is available online at: http://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7V5H8H/$file/JPBAffidavitSpanish.pdf.
Media Contact: Sandi Copes
Phone: (850) 245-0150
