| A Clay County man, trying to save his home, has been victimized by a mortgage scam.
Terry Harper was falling behind on his mortgage when he saw a commercial on TV that promised help, but he ended up losing more than he could have imagined.
Harper, who was going through a divorce, needed help catching up with his mortgage payments. He saw the ad by the National Relief Group, and thought it was an opportunity.
"This loan modification program promised that they could help him save his home," says WV Assistant Attorney General Kim Stitzinger Jones.
National Relief Group, based in California, told Harper he was pre-approved for a loan modification, but needed to pay $2,500 in advance.
He sent the money, but got no relief.
"We were really devastated. I can't give you the words to tell you how we really feel," Harper told state media.
Harper came home from work one day to find a "For Sale" sign in his yard.
Now, West Virginia Attorney General Darrell McGraw is suing National Relief Group.
In West Virginia it is illegal to accept payment, advance fees, for obtaining a loan modification.
The office says they had 27 complaints like Harper's in 2009.
Nearly double that in 2010, and already this year, 24 complaints have been filed.
The AG's office says there are a lot of West Virginia homeowners that are being taken advantage of by these companies.
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