Boise real estate owners are trying to keep their homes and in so doing, seek loan modifications, but that is the top fraud complaint in the state right now. The attorney generals office is reporting that fraud reports regarding loan modifications are skyrocketing in 2009, right along with the default rate, which is up 89% from the prior year. Of the total number of complaints filed this year, this type comprised about 20% of them.
Many of the reports of fraud being reported are outrageous, says Lawrence Wasden, Idaho’s Attorney General. Many homeowners, who are desperate to keep their homes, are charged hundreds and sometimes thousands of dollars, although no attempt to change their loan is made. The Attorney Generals office rapidly sought out and received three settlements and filed two lawsuits on behalf of citizens and victims. This kind of criminal act leaves nearly all homeowners in the Boise real estate market without any avenue to keep their homes.
In order to help many Boise real estate owners receive the loan modifications they were hoping for, the Attorney Generals office even brought in a counselor as a resource. They even went as far as publishing and handing out a foreclosure guide.
Efforts last year netted the largest amount of restitution ever recovered by the office - $7.4 million, about $12.14 for each taxpayer dollar budgeted for consumer operations, Wasden said. Collecting $5.9 million in additional civil fines, penalties and fees for the Idaho tax payer, the Idaho Attorney Generals office set records in that category too. The office also reached an agreement with the tobacco industry which brought in $31 million to state coffers from negotiations made in 1998. So far, this agreement has brought Idaho $254 million it wouldn’t otherwise have.
While only costing the state of Idaho $833,000 and bringing in a total of $44 million, the consumer affairs operations are a very positive force for citizens in general, but specifically for those who own Boise real estate. No matter the category, the AG’s office was efficient and effective in 2009. They didn’t back down when facing opponents as large as Eli Lilly or other pharmaceutical companies, let alone any other commercial entities. In topics as broad as illegal monopolies to anti-trust issues, Wasden is not one to back off or step aside. It also reached a significant price fixing settlement involving vitamins.
The telemarketing industry as well, has been put on notice, with the addition of over 900,000 phone numbers to the protective ‘do not call” list. To add to it all, the office will soon come out with an instructional DVD on how teens can avoid being trapped by online sexual predators.
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