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NAPLES - Preying on desperate homeowners facing foreclosure, scammers are using a non-profit's good name to do bad things.
Not only is the Conant Mediation Center a non-profit, but it's also the one and only court-appointed mediator that everyone going through foreclosure must use.
That's why the non-profit came to us - to keep you from falling for these foreclosure fakes.
It happened to Naples Park homeowner Todd Grup. He recently ran into some mortgage problems, like tens of thousands of you.
And last month, court-appointed mediator in Southwest florida  - The Conant Mediation Center - contacted Todd to help him reach an agreement with his bank.
Then about a week later, Todd received a call from someone posing to be from the Cconant Mediation Center and asked for a $1,000 fee.
Jonathan Conant - president of the real Conant center is, understandably upset.
"I'm upset because we don't get paid for this. This is a free program that the State of Florida enacted to help borrowers in distress. They're trusting these people, giving them money, and they can't provide the services we can," he tells us.
Luckily a follow-up call from the real Conant stopped the swindle.
Todd's just glad he didn't fall for the fakes, potentially losing his cash and his home.
Now to be clear there are legitimate lawyers and mediators who might solicit you for foreclosure help. And you can pay them if you want. But the Conant Mediation Center's services will always be free once a foreclosure action is filed against you.