Mortgage Help Scam

And the Better Business Bureau of Eastern North Carolina says he's not alone; when it comes to dealing with the company "Mortgage Help Services", the list of victims is growing.

A few months ago, Thomas Cobb started falling behind on his mortgage payments to 21st Mortgage. He thought he'd lose his home until a radio ad gave him hope.

Cobb says, "I heard them say they will stop foreclosure, they can reduce your mortgage rate, payments and that's what I needed."

And according to Cobb, they even told him to not pay his mortgage payments until they resolved his loan. Cobb says 21st Mortgage told him the company never followed up with them.
Cobb: "I let all these months go by listening to these people; I could have been giving my mortgage company these payments."

Reporter: “Cobb met with mortgage help services in a rented office in Raleigh. But no one's here now. According to Cobb they told him they'd lower his mortgage payments if he gave them $550.00. It is illegal for anyone to charge upfront fees in North Carolina when it comes to foreclosure assistance."

We tried calling Mortgage Help Services, but no luck. Beverly Baskin of the Better Business Bureau says more than 700 people have called about Mortgage Help Services since January.

About 20 people have filed complaints with her office.

Baskin says, "Not only did they not save their home, they lost out on the promise of it and they were ripped off." Baskin believes there could be more victims: "These consumers think they're doing everything right, including the fact that at least these folks advertised on a gospel station; therefore they must be above the rest, it's an unfortunate gimmick."

In the meantime the Attorney General's office is working to get homeowners, like Cobb their money back. As far as keeping his home, Cobb says he has to catch up on his payments fast.

Attorney General Roy Cooper managed to stop the company from advertising or taking money for loan services in this state as a lawsuit makes its way through the Court. He wants to make the ban permanent.

The Attorney General’s Office tells Nine On Your Side they also have been able to stop the company and its CEO from advertising, performing or taking money for loan modification and foreclosure assistance services in North Carolina. The office says the suit is moving forward and Cooper is asking the Court to ban the company permanently and order it to pay refunds to consumers and civil penalties.

If you’ve done business with Mortgage Help Services contact the Attorney General’s Office and file a complaint. You can call toll-free within the state at 1-877-5-NO-SCAM or fill out a consumer complaint form at www.ncdoj.gov.

Remember it is illegal in North Carolina for anyone to charge you an upfront fee to help you deal with foreclosure issues. The Attorney General’s Office says anyone who does that is trying to scam you. You can get free foreclosure assistance counseling from non-profit agencies throughout North Carolina and across the country through the HOPE hotline. That number is 1-888-995-HOPE.