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Response Tree, LLC

On January 2, 2024, the Department of Justice on referral from the FTC filed a complaint alleging that California-based lead generator Response Tree LLC and its president, Derek Thomas Doherty operated more than 50 websites designed to trick consumers into providing their personal information for supposed mortgage refinancing loans and other services. These telemarketing campaigns, which made robocalls and calls to numbers on the DNC Registry, were illegal, as the telemarketers did not have consumers’ consent to be called.

Under a proposed order settling the FTC’s charges, Response Tree and Derek Thomas Doherty will be banned from making or assisting anyone else in making robocalls or calls to phone numbers on the FTC’s Do Not Call (DNC) Registry.

Type of Action
Administrative
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
2123087
Case Status
Closed

Home Matters USA

The Federal Trade Commission and the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation (DFPI) are taking action against various companies doing business as Home Matters USA, Academy Home Services, Atlantic Pacific Service Group, and Golden Home Services America, and the owners of the companies, Dominic Ahiga and Roger Scott Dyer, for operating a sham mortgage relief operation that misled consumers and cost them millions. In the first case brought jointly by the two agencies, the FTC and DFPI allege that the companies charged consumers thousands of dollars with false promises they would negotiate with consumers’ mortgage lenders to alter their loans, at times even representing they were affiliated with government COVID-19 relief programs. A federal court has temporarily shut down the operation and frozen the assets of the defendants in the case.

The court’s orders bar the individuals and their companies from directly or indirectly engaging in telemarketing, debt relief services, and making any misrepresentations or unsubstantiated claims about any product or service.

Type of Action
Federal
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
2123099
Case Status
Pending

Lanier Law, LLC

The Federal Trade Commission is sending more than $222,000 in refunds to consumers harmed by a deceptive mortgage relief operation known as Lanier Law. The scheme collected thousands of dollars in upfront fees from homeowners by promising to lower their monthly payments but then failed to deliver.

Type of Action
Federal
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
142 3038
X140039

Mortgage Solutions FCS, Inc.

Mortgage Solutions FCS, doing business as Mount Diablo Lending, and Ramon Walker agreed to pay $120,000 to settle Federal Trade Commission allegations that it violated the Fair Credit Reporting Act and other laws by revealing personal information about consumers in response to negative reviews posted on the review website Yelp. 

Type of Action
Federal
Last Updated
FTC Matter/File Number
182 3199
Case Status
Pending
May19

Scam Jam: An Evening to Empower Georgia Consumers

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Join the FTC and NAACP Georgia’s Scam Jam to hear about scams that affect African American communities. Hear from experts how to spot, stop and report consumer scams – including imposter and wire...
Apr21

Spotting and Avoiding Scams in Our Communities

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New America Media & the Federal Trade Commission invite you to an ethnic media news briefing: Every year scammers defraud our communities of hundreds of millions of dollars by selling fake services...