FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Indiana Attorney General Greg Zoeller today filed three lawsuits against out-of-state foreclosure consultants accused of ripping off Northeast Indiana residents.

Zoeller said many for-profit companies go around state law by demanding upfront payments from customers and failing to provide services or refunds. Zoeller visited Allen County to file a lawsuit against Mortgage Auditing Solutions of California for allegedly going into a contract with a Fort Wayne resident to lower their home-loan payments and taking off with a $495 upfront payment.

Separate lawsuits were also filed today in Whitley and Adams counties against Mortage Solutions Clearing House, Inc. and Federal Loan Modification Law Center. They are accused of taking almost $2,000 in upfront payments from two victims and not getting the promised home-loan modifications.

All three companies didn’t register $25,000 surety bonds with the Attorney General’s Office.

The Attorney General’s Office said in a statement today: Distressed homeowners at risk of foreclosure need not pay a large fee to a for-profit company, when advice on avoiding foreclosure is available for free from the Indiana Foreclosure Prevention Network at 1.877.GET.HOPE. Hoosiers who believe they have been a victim of a foreclosure consultant scam can file a complaint with the Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at www.IndianaConsumer.com or by calling 1.800.382.5516.