Cops: Pair Pinched In Alleged Upfront Fee Loan Mod, Credit Repair Racket Used India Call Center, Local Mail Drop To Bag Victims From Around Country

In Fresno, California, KFSN-TV Channel 30 reports:

• Police have broken up what they believe is an international mortgage fraud operation with a hub in Fresno. The operation is accused of taking advantage of people in the most desperate financial situations and making their problems even worse.



• Officers arrested Baljit Singh and Sharanjit Kaur at a Northwest Fresno home, and put them in jail on charges of grand theft. Police served four search warrants Wednesday, and they've uncovered more than 20 victims -- people in dire straits who were taken advantage of when they were looking for a quick way out.



• A simple arrest in Northwest Fresno brought a complicated web of scams to an end, according to Fresno Police. Singh and Kaur lived in the home and operated a credit repair business and a mortgage modification business. Police say the companies were nothing more than fronts for financial crime.



• Consumer Credit Repair and Consumer Financial Services targeted people with bad credit or homes in the foreclosure process and promised an easy fix. "We've found victims throughout the country," said Detective Ken Dodd of the financial crimes unit. "One victim in Oregon had also sent money in to Consumer Financial Services only to find out their home loan had not been modified and they received a default notice."



• Investigators say callers from India contacted victims and convinced them to send money to an office in Fresno. This is the office -- nothing more than a mail drop box where police say the suspects picked up the cash and left their victims sinking even further into debt.

For the story, see International mortgage fraud operation bust in Fresno.