Staten Island mom had '20 minutes' to get out after losing home in foreclosure prevention scam. The red flags she missed

Core Viewpoint - Several Staten Island families have lost their homes after seeking help from a foreclosure prevention company, JT Home Savers, which failed to deliver on its promises and left homeowners evicted and scrambling for their belongings [1][2]. Group 1: Homeowner Experiences - Homeowners reported being misled about their situations being "under control," only to find out too late that their properties had been sold [1]. - One homeowner, Dina Pantazis, described the distress of being locked out of her home while trying to gather her belongings [2]. - Another homeowner, Joe Forte, recounted how a new owner allowed strangers to take items from his home after changing the locks [2]. Group 2: Company Practices - Text messages revealed that homeowners were asked to send payments while awaiting mortgage refinancing, which never occurred [3]. - Some homeowners were allegedly advised not to pay their mortgages during the process, a claim denied by Lauren Taliento, the operator of JT Home Savers [3]. - Taliento stated that any funds exchanged were for administrative processing and consulting services, contradicting the homeowners' experiences [3]. Group 3: Legal and Regulatory Response - Attorney Scott Ugell characterized the situation as a "garden-variety fraud," indicating that the company encouraged homeowners to provide money without justification [3]. - The Staten Island District Attorney's Office, initially dismissive, is now investigating the matter, although the damage to homeowners may already be significant [3]. Group 4: Industry Context - Foreclosure prevention scams typically target vulnerable homeowners facing financial difficulties, promising false solutions such as loan modifications [4]. - The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) notes that these schemes exploit homeowners' fears of losing their homes through deceptive practices [4].