Fraud Alert 

 Companies Offering Credit Repair & Mortgage Problem Aid

Diana Brodman Summers, the Chicago area attorney and published author (including books on real estate subjects) who writes for our Ask A Lawyer page has recently alerted us to a problem being experienced by people seeking to repair their credit and purchase homes.  Diana points out how to seek help if you encounter this sort of problem.  Here is what Diana has to say... 

The attorneys generals of each state in the U.S. have recently issued a press release about combating the increase of fraud from companies who advertise they will help with credit or mortgage problems. 
 
Anyone wishing to file a complaint against alleged fraudulent activities in the credit or mortgage repair industry should contact their attorney general and report the activity right away.  In my state, Illinois, the attorney general is Lisa Madigan.  In Illinois, a person can call her office (312-814-3000), speak with a staff attorney in the Consumer Fraud Division, and then provide that staff attorney with copies of all documents related to the activity they are complaining about.  The attorney general's office will then investigate the alleged fraud and assist the consumer in whatever the next step will be. 
 
That next step will depend on state laws and the evidence the consumer provides.  It can be directing the consumer to get a private attorney, or the consumer may be included in a court action that the state has filed against this company.   
 
Anyone who has become victim of mortgage / credit card fraud or who knows of a company that is attempting to defraud the consumers should immediately report this to their attorney general's office.  This is the only way that consumer fraud can be eliminated.
 
Diana Brodman Summers