District Attorney Gregory D. Totten issued a Consumer Protection Advisory today to Ventura County residents who may be facing foreclosure due to their inability to make timely payments on their home loans. Homeowners should be wary of foreclosure prevention, delay or “rescue” solicitations where the homeowner is urged to transfer ownership of a portion of their home to another individual or entity. Often, these solicitations offer little or no benefit to the homeowner and may rise to the level of criminal conduct. Homeowners who believe their homes may be in danger of foreclosure are urged to read the complete advisory letter, which is available in English and Spanish at the District Attorney's Office website: http://da.countyofventura.org/refraud_unit.htm. The advisory letter also contains information about resources that offer genuine assistance to distressed homeowners.
The real estate fraud unit investigates and prosecutes crimes involving recorded real estate documents. Criminal real estate fraud may involve home equity fraud, securities fraud tied to real estate, and loan fraud. Victims of criminal real estate fraud and predatory lending schemes are often senior citizens and people with limited English speaking abilities. Real estate fraud strikes at the heart of the American dream, where a sophisticated criminal can victimize dozens of people by stealing their life savings and their home.
Persons who believe they may be victims of real estate fraud are encouraged to fill out and return a Real Estate Fraud Complaint Form for our review.