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Pennsylvania Operation Short Change

Unfortunately this spiraling downturn in America's economy has brought out the worst in people and made greedy people even greedier. New companies are sprouting out everywhere claiming they can help you "get rich quick" or work from home earning thousands of dollars in extra income a month.

Other unlicensed companies are preying on people in foreclosure. Telling them to stop paying their bills and sending any mortgage payments. Asking consumers to send them their money and they will help pay their bills and get them out of foreclosure. Only for their efforts to fail or even sometimes, for the companies to do nothing at all.

According to RealEstateRama:

The Pennsylvania Department of Banking recently ordered six out-of-state mortgage modification companies to end their unlicensed business activities in Pennsylvania. The companies advertise on their web sites to refinance mortgages in Pennsylvania as part of the loan modification process when they are not licensed to do so.

The cease and desist orders apply to:

  • ApplyLoanMod.com, California
  • ClearHomeRelief, California
  • HomeForeclosureFighter, California
  • U.S. Loan Assistance Center, California
  • Mortgage Solutions Clearing House, Florida
  • American Foreclosure Specialists, Oklahoma

In an effort to stop the insanity, the Justice Department and the Federal Trade Commission just announced a law enforcement sweep called "Operation Short Change". The operation includes 15 states and 42 law enforcement actions by the U.S. Department of Justice. Fifteen states took another 64 enforcement actions against individuals and companies allegedly defrauding consumers. The FTC also produced a new consumer education video featuring consumer victims and a former scammer who gives an insider account of how these operations use high-pressure tactics and celebrity endorsers to trick cash-strapped consumers.

One Pennsylvania woman recently reported that she was scammed. She is a struggling single mother who sent $89 into a company for her to get started on "her new career working at home". Only to find out, that the company did not hold up to their end of the deal. These scams raise peoples hopes and then digs them deeper into a hole.

In today's rough economy, it is important for Pennsylvania to stay on top of these companies that try to take advantage of consumers. Pennsylvania consumers can report any scam attempts to their Attorney General's Office. Reporting their fraudulent and deceptive ways can be your part in helping to turn the economy back around. In addition to Pennsylvania, the other states involved in Operation Short Change include: California, Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Missouri, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas and Wisconsin.


Jeff Suher, Pittsburgh Consumer Attorney who specializes in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. 

Jeff sues abusive debt collectors and helps consumers that have incorrect information on their credit reports.  

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