FTC Sends More Than $250,000 in Additional Refunds to Victims of Mortgage Modification Scheme

The Federal Trade Commission is sending a third round of checks totaling more than $250,000 to victims of a mortgage modification scheme dating back to 2009. The FTC began mailing refunds in this matter in 2012. In total, the FTC has distributed more than $900,000.

According to the FTC, First Universal Lending, LLC, Sean Zausner, David Zausner, and David J. Feingold deceived distressed homeowners with phony claims that they would negotiate with lenders to modify their mortgages. The FTC charged that the defendants encouraged homeowners to stop making mortgage payments, saying lenders would not negotiate unless they were at least a few months behind in their payments. After charging consumers up to $7,000 in up-front fees, the defendants did little or nothing to help them.

The FTC is providing $253,615 in refunds to 6,935 victims. Those who receive checks should deposit or cash their checks within 60 days, as indicated on the check. The FTC never requires people to pay money or provide account information to cash a refund check.

Recipients who have questions about the refunds should contact Analytics at 877-919-0836.

The FTC'sinteractive dashboards for refund dataprovide a state-by-state breakdown of FTC refunds. In 2020, FTC actions led to $483 million in refunds to consumers across the country.