FTC wins court order to shut down alleged mortgage relief scheme

The The FTC said the mailers often included specific modification terms that consumers were purportedly eligible to receive, including lower interest rates and monthly mortgage payments.

Aside from Van Zweeden, Rub and Bustamante, the defendants include Accounting Business Consultants Inc., Accounting Service Providers Inc., Amster Beene Partners Inc., Assertive Loan Advisors Inc., Independent Accounting Consulting Inc., United Administration Counseling Inc. and United Bookkeeping Services Inc.

The FTC alleges the companies falsely claimed they could secure substantial mortgage relief, improperly suggested ties to government assistance programs, and in some cases, advised homeowners to stop making mortgage payments. Regulators also say the defendants collected advance fees before obtaining any relief, in violation of the federal Mortgage Assistance Relief Services rule.

The court order temporarily bars the companies from requesting or accepting such fees.

The agency said many consumers were already in financial distress and instead of receiving relief, some lost fees, fell further behind on payments and faced default or