State Shuts Down Suspected Fake Mortgage Company

DETROIT (WWJ/AP) - The state of Michigan says it has shut down what's believed to be a phony mortgage company seeking to scam people out of money and personal information.

The Office of Financial and Insurance Regulation announced Thursday that it issued a cease and desist order for Detroit-based United Commercial Credit. The order was dated last month. The state said it also had United Commercial Credit's website shut down.

State officials said United Commercial Credit was encouraging people to apply for loans by providing personal information including social security and financial account numbers. The state said fees were being sought in advance for loans that wouldn't materialize.

"This looks like a classic advance fee scam, where victims are enticed into paying upfront fees for services they never receive," OFIR Commissioner Kevin Clinton said. "OFIR will remain committed to protecting consumers and shutting down these fraudulent companies."

- View OFIR's cease and desist order (.pdf format) -

A telephone number for United Commercial Credit wasn't working Thursday.

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