Fraud Lawyer

National Survey Determining Level of Consumer Fraud in America Released

In 2003, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) conducted a national survey of 2,500 adults to determine the level of consumer fraud in America. The figures were just released in August 2004, showing that more than one in 10 Americans, nearly 25 million adults, were victims of consumer fraud in 2003.......read full story

If you would like to discuss your rights, please CONTACT US.

Stores Accused of Deceptive Credit Card Practices

These days there are few stores where consumers can make purchases without being asked if they would like to open up a store credit card. A store offers its own card in hopes of increasing the number of large purchases, and so the store can share in the interest generated by purchases on credit. Stores often try to attract people to these cards by advertising zero interest rates or low interest rates as promotions. ......read full story

If you would like to discuss your rights, please CONTACT US.

Complaints of Apple iPod and iBook Products Threaten Reputation

Apple has a market share of around 2% and has been able to maintain a strong consumer following. Up to recently, the company has profited from its' computers higher prices because of the belief that Apple machines are more reliable than Microsoft Windows PC's. The road may appear to be much rockier in the future, with at least two online.....read full story

If you would like to discuss your rights, please CONTACT US.

Gift Card Fraud Complaints

We are investigating complaints by consumers that their gift cards expire or are charged a fee for non-use, which fee is deducted from the balance on the card.  if you have gift cards that have expired or have been reduced in value because of a fee imposed by the company and you would like to discuss your rights, please CONTACT US.

Complaints for Colgate's "Simply White"

We are investigating complaints that the packaging for Colgate's "Simply White" tooth whitening product fails to disclose that "Simply White" only whitens natural teeth and does not work if you have caps, crowns or veneers. If you are a Connecticut resident with a cap, crown or veneer who purchased "Simply White" contact us.

Credit Card Fraud

So far, there is no evidence that any criminals overseas that have committed credit card fraud have been prosecuted. These overseas credit card fraud stints have proven to have little penalty for the international credit card thieves because of the US law enforcement that has encountered difficulties with the laws on white-collar crimes in other countries, jurisdictional questions, the indifference of some governments, and the investigations of credit card fraud being a time consuming and expensive process.

Credit Card Fraud Video
NBC's Dan Lothian reports how a California bank inadvertently gave customers' credit card information to the alleged mastermind of possibly the largest credit card fraud scams. G

Fraud News

• Fleetwood Modular Homes Investigation, October 2003
• New Cellphone Charges Aimed to Disguise Rate Increases, May 2, 2003

Fraud Across Canadian Lines, June 10, 2002
Canadian authorities have identified a number of different fraud schemes aimed at U.S. citizens. Many of the consumers targeted are elderly.The consumer fraud scams have included international lottery and prize scam operators. Every one of these Canadian consumer fraud scams is in violation of the FTC Act, the Telemarketing Sales Rule, and Canadian federal and provincial laws. Read More News Stories...

Paying For Nonexistent Insurance, June 4, 2002
Considered one of the biggest insurance fraud scams within the last ten years by James Quiggle of the Coalition Against Insurance Fraud, more and more Americans are finding they have been sold nonexistent insurance plans. The insurance fraud plans are in operation in every state and leaves the victims with countless medical bills and debt. The insurance fraud is affecting more than individual patients, it also affects doctors and hospitals that are left in financial distress because state and federal authorities often do not discover that they are involved in a scam until it is too late.

Florida has been so badly affected by the insurance fraud the state has launched an ad campaign to warn people to check their insurance companies to make sure they are licensed. The fake insurance plans usually target the self-employed because they have the hardest time finding affordable health insurance, so the unlicensed companies can offer cheaper rates than the larger, well-known insurance companies. The insurance fraud victims do not find out they have been scammed until they need to use the insurance and then it is too late.

Predatory Lending

Predatory Lending Lawsuit Settled
First Alliance Mortgage Co. has been ordered to pay borrowers in a Court approved settlement of a predatory lending lawsuit. The predatory lending charges alleged that the company offered home equity loans that were targeted at consumers with marginal or poor credit ratings that normally do not qualify for a conventional loan. The company allegedly used deceptive business practices to entice consumers into taking out loans with large fees that added up to as large as 25% of the actual loan amount. First Alliance also allegedly misled consumers about increases in the interest rate and monthly payments on adjustable rate mortgage loans. For more information on consumer fraud lawsuits, including predatory lending, please contact us to confer with a consumer fraud attorney.

Warning Signs of Predatory Lending
Although these warning signs do not positively mean that you have been a victim or predatory lending it can be a good indicator that you are being misled. Contact us to confer with a fraud lawyer.

• MULTIPLE REFINANCING If you have refinanced your loan multiple times and increased your monthly payment and/or total amount you owe each time.
• UNEXPECTED PAYMENTS The amount of the monthly payments on the loan are higher than you were expecting following the settlement from the initial disclosures.
• NOT SIGNING If signing forms the lender altered your information or asked you to leave signature lines blank.
• CHANGING RATES Your documents show that your interest rate calculation will change and require you to pay a daily interest when you have late payments.
• FALSO INFO The lender encourage false information be put on the loan application.
• INFO MISSING Certain information is missing in your loan file like a good faith estimate, truth in lending, special information booklet, and HUD-1 settlement statement.
• CREDIT INSURANCE You had to buy credit insurance.
• SETTLEMENT COSTS Costs appear at the settlement that had not previously been explained they would be present before settling.
• EXTRA LOANS You need another loan to finance the final lump sum amount of your balloon loan.
• HIGH LOAN AMOUNTS Your loan amount on the loan you have chosen is higher than the value of your home.