ESOP: Foreclosure scam alert - 19 Action News|Cleveland, OH|News, Weather, Sports

ESOP: Foreclosure scam alert

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CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) -

So you are about to lose your home so you need a quick fix to save it. That's when scam artists swoop in to take advantage.

This is the time of the year when groups sweep across the nation, including here in Ohio, promise to save your home over night. But remember -- there is no magic wand but there are people who can help and here's one success story.

Kimberly Ford spent the afternoon telling all of Cleveland, including some very high ranking city and county officials, how she almost lost her home back in 2009.  She says a company promised her a refinance of her mortgage and it never got done. She almost lost her home of more than 20 years.

"It was a struggle. It was fine until I got sick. Once my income got reduced, that's when all this happened," said Kimberly Ford.

It wasn't until Kimberly hooked up with Empowering and Strengthening Ohio's People also known as ESOP through her city councilman Mike Polensick.

ESOP provides assistance to homeowners who are facing foreclosure and helped Kimberly save her home by reducing her mortgage payments. It wasn't an overnight process.  

Cuyahoga County Executive Ed Fitzgerald says this summer don't fall for the fast talking people who say they can easily save your home if you hand over some cash.

"We are here to make sure homeowners are going to get the right help they need.   The foreclosure crisis is not over it's still going," said County Executive Ed Fitzgerald.

 

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