Recently, the Pinellas County Department of Justice and Consumer Services delivered the first of four foreclosure fraud seminars.

Len Ciecieznski, community outreach coordinator for the Pinellas County Communications Department, warned that scammers are now taking advantage of homeowners receiving demand letters from their lenders or the lenders’ lawyers. Scammers promise people who have fallen behind on their mortgage that they can save their home through special deals they have with lenders. Unfortunately, these scam artists end up with their victim’s money – or even their house. Worse, the victims can lose their house but still owe on their mortgage.

Homeowners in Pinellas can go to http://www.pinellascounty.org/foreclosure/ for more information on upcoming seminars.