Consumer Defense Refunds

The FTC is sending a second round of payments people who paid fees to Consumer Defense in a deceptive mortgage loan relief scam. The scam used several business names including Preferred Law, American Home Loans, and Modification Review Board.

The FTC sued Consumer Defense and related businesses for running an illegal mortgage relief scam. According to the lawsuit, the defendants falsely promised to help struggling homeowners, claiming that their legal experts would make mortgage payments more affordable. Instead, the defendants collected illegal upfront fees and unlawfully told homeowners not to pay their mortgages to or communicate with their lenders. The defendants were permanently banned from the debt relief business and required to pay money to provide refunds.

The FTC first sent payments in January 2024, which resulted in more than $897,000 in refunds. Because there is still money in the fund, the FTC is sending 4,460 payments totaling over $331,000 to people who accepted their first payment.

If you get a check, please cash it within 90 days.

You can find answers to common questions about FTC refund payments on our FAQ page. If you have any other questions, please call the refund administrator at 1-877-595-0141.