American Residential Law Group Individuals in contact with me. Phone extensions included:Misrepresented themselves as a law fir specializing in home loan modifications. Scammed me out of $1,650. Fort Lauderdale, Florida

On October 29, I made phone contact with Wayne Lucas of American Residential Law Group. He said they were a law firm which specializes in loan modifications with lenders and promised he could get me some relief with my current lender to modify my current mortgage contract for a lower interest rate. I was directed to review the web site and read the articles written regarding them. There have apparently been news spots done touting their good works, although I have not seen them.

The fee was $1,650. I was "allowed" to pay it in two installments on November 1 and December 1. I had to provide documentation including: a signed 3rd party authorization to represent form; my current mortgage contract; two months of bank statements; two months of pay stubs; limited power of attorney; 2008 and 2009 1040 tax return forms;2008 & 2009 W-2 forms; a signed services agreement. Note that some of these documents contain my social security number. In addition, they would not allow me to pay them by check, but insisted on a bank draft for the two installments, to which I was initially hesitant, but finally agreed to do.

On December 1, I received an e-mail from Lisa Ohayon who said that she'd been assigned as my mitigator. I've never spoken to her and have received no messages from her since. I don't have an extension for her so I can't leave her a voice message, although I've sent her e-mails. I've tried to contact Lisa Velasquez, Wayne Lucas (the attorney and account executive with whom I originally spoke). Neither she nor Wayne, for whom I do have telephone extension, are responding to my phone calls or e-mails.

Since December 10, I have not been able to speak to anyone, nor have I had any further e-mail contact with them. There was a greeting on the telephone from December 21 - January 3 saying the office was closed for the holidays. Since December 10, I have left voice messages, sent e-mail messages, sent a fax. I have not received any response. No calls nor e-mails have been returned. They're paid and I'm totally scammed so I guess I won't hear from them. They have my money. I do plan to file reports with the Attorney General for the state of Florida as well as the Better Business Bureau in that area. These crooks should be prosecuted.