Take a look at what the Federal Trade Commission calls an “official looking mailer” that promises desperate homeowners the chance to avoid foreclosure.
For many, the offer is too good to be true, for a fee of only $2,000 to $4,000 attorney William D. Goodrich promised lower monthly payments and interest rates, and conversion of adjustable-rate mortgages to fixed.
The only problem, according to the FTC, the entire practice, along with many others owned by Goodrich associates, is a complete and total scam.
The defendants allegedly falsely claimed they would provide legal help to save consumers’ homes from foreclosure and lower their mortgage payments, a statement from the FTC states.
The FTC filed a restraining order against the so-called “forensic audits” and shut down related websites (which also looked pretty official). These audits promised to uncover malfeasance at mortgage lenders in order to relieve the homeowner. The FTC says more often than not, the fraudsters did nothing but take the homeowner’s money.
“Many consumers who called the toll-free numbers were falsely guaranteed a loan modification that supposedly would make their payments more affordable, that they would get results within 60 to 90 days, or that Goodrich, an attorney, would use his impressive legal experience on their behalf, according to the complaint,” the FTC states.
Ratan Baid and Madhulika Baid will also be attending trial with attorney William Goodrich. Also named as defendants, Apex Solutions; A to Z Marketing; Apex Members; Backend Inc.; Expert Processing Center; and Smart Funding Corp.
