AG McCollum Files Lawsuit against 4 South Florida Companies for Foreclosure Rescue Fraud

Company director allegedly ran boiler-room telemarketing operation using the President’s voice to target victims

TALLAHASSEE, FL – July 2, 2009 – Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced that his office has filed a lawsuit against four related South Florida companies that allegedly charge up-front fees for loan modification services to homeowners facing foreclosure. FHA All Day.Com and owner Jason Vitulano, as well as three other affiliated companies, purportedly collect up to $1 million in up-front fees on a monthly basis. The companies were allegedly soliciting hundreds of consumers nationwide via the internet and though telemarketing robo-calls which illegally used President Obama’s voice.

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, indicated that Vitulano and his companies were charging up-front fees as high as $5,000 for foreclosure-related loan modification services. Vitulano also allegedly claimed to have an attorney on staff available to assist homeowners, but investigators believe no attorneys are currently working on any of the loan modification files. Consumers who complained to the Attorney General’s Office also reported that the companies have not performed the promised services and that they were unable to contact the companies or get refunds. The Attorney General’s Office has received over 300 complaints about Vitulano and his related companies.

The Attorney General’s lawsuit seeks a permanent injunction prohibiting Defendants from charging up-front fees, restitution on behalf of all victimized consumers, civil penalties of $15,000 for each violation of the Foreclosure Fraud Prevention Act, and reimbursement for fees and costs related to the investigation. The companies are currently located in Deerfield Beach, Florida, but were previously located in Boca Raton and Delray Beach, Florida.

Consumers may file a complaint or fill out an affidavit about FHA All Day.Com, Safety Financial Services, Inc., Housing Assistance Law Center, Housing Assistance Now by visiting the Attorney General’s website at https://www.myfloridalegal.com/mortgagefraud or by calling the fraud hotline at 1-866-966-7226. More information about that Attorney General’s efforts in combating mortgage fraud, along with helpful information for homeowners in distress, is also available on the mortgage fraud website.

The Attorney General’s Mortgage Fraud Task Force continues to review the practices of many companies providing foreclosure-related rescue services to ensure compliance with Florida law. The Foreclosure Rescue Fraud Prevention Act was one of the Attorney General’s top priorities during the 2008 Legislative Session and has provided the Attorney General’s Office, through the Mortgage Fraud Task Force, with better enforcement abilities on behalf of Florida’s homeowners.

A copy of the lawsuit is available online at: https://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7U6KWB/$file/FHAComplaint.pdf

A copy of a consumer affidavit form and instructions is available online at: https://myfloridalegal.com/webfiles.nsf/WF/MRAY-7U6KVQ/$file/FHAAffidavit.pdf

Become a Member of GoToby.com:  Receive email notices of news, rumors, newsletters, and articles. [click here] It’s free.

1 reply

Leave a Reply

Want to join the discussion?
Feel free to contribute!

Leave a Reply