Business

City Attorney David Chiu Subpoenas Home Title Protection Company for Alleged Deceptive Advertising

City attorneys from San Francisco and San Diego are seeking more information on a California-based company that allegedly scammed people into buying unnecessary home title protections. The city attorneys on Monday said they issued a subpoena against Home Title Lock, which allegedly used deceptive advertising to sell an unnecessary subscription service meant to protect homeowners from having their homes stolen from them.

Published

2 years ago

April 19, 2023

Oakland Post

The city attorneys allege that the Home Title Lock services will not safeguard a person's home title; it can only notify them that a deed has been recorded. And at least in California, a fraudulent deed would not result in the loss of a home or its equity.

By Olivia Wynkoop
Bay City News

City attorneys from San Francisco and San Diego are seeking more information on a California-based company that allegedly scammed people into buying unnecessary home title protections.

The city attorneys on Monday said they issued a subpoena against Home Title Lock, which allegedly used deceptive advertising to sell an unnecessary subscription service meant to protect homeowners from having their homes stolen from them.

The company reportedly incited fear about “home title theft,” where scammers access a home title online, forge a signature, and claim that a home is sold to them. The company said this crime is rapidly on the rise across the country in their television, radio and online advertisements, and in order to protect their homes, homeowners should purchase their services.

The company is “proudly recommended” by prominent conservative figures like Newt Gingrich, Ben Shapiro, Bill O’Reilly and Glenn Beck, according to its webpage.

The city attorneys allege that the Home Title Lock services will not safeguard a person’s home title; it can only notify them that a deed has been recorded. And at least in California, a fraudulent deed would not result in the loss of a home or its equity.

“Home Title Lock targets and preys upon elderly Californians whose homes are their chief source of financial security,” San Diego City Attorney Mara Elliott said. “It convinces its customers that they will wind up penniless if they do not invest in services they do not need. Home Title Lock’s conduct is not just illegal; it is unconscionable and cruel.”

San Francisco City Attorney David Chiu alleges that Home Title Lock has “manufactured a ‘home title theft’ crisis” to specifically deceive elderly homeowners to buy services that many county recorders’ offices already do for free.

“Home Title Lock is a scam, plain and simple,” Chiu said.

“False identity theft scares, like those created by Home Title Lock, take attention away from important privacy and data security efforts. We are seeking further information to understand how many California homeowners may have been harmed by these misleading advertisements,” he added.

The attorneys allege that Home Title Lock’s ads may violate multiple state laws, like California’s Unfair Competition Law, in which courts are permitted to stop misleading advertising and provide refunds to consumers.

The filed subpoena seeks information about the company’s impact on consumers in California.

Consumers who have information about Home Title Lock are encouraged to contact the San Francisco City Attorney’s Office through its hotline at (415) 554-3977.

Home Title Lock did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Copyright © 2023 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area.

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Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

The printed Weekly Edition of the Oakland Post: Week of December 18 – 24, 2024

Published

1 day ago

December 20, 2024

Oakland Post

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BWOPA Honors Black Leadership and Legacy at 2024 Ella Hill Hutch Awards Dinner

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills. At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

Published

4 days ago

December 18, 2024

Oakland Post

L-R: BWOPA State Executive Director LaNiece Jones; State Asm. Mia Bonta; BWOPA 2024 Man of The Year/Urban League SFBA CEO Ken Maxey; BWOPA State President Hon. Dezie Woods-Jones; State Senator Lola Smallwood-Cuevas; Rowena Brown, Oakland Councilmember At-Large, Elect; BWOPA State Regional Director Vashone Huff. Courtesy photo.

By Oakland Post Staff

Black Women Organized for Political Action (BWOPA) is a statewide non-profit advocacy and membership organization committed to solving problems affecting Black Californians.

On Dec. 5, BWOPA held its Annual Ella Hill Hutch Awards Ceremony, at the Fairmont Claremont Hotel in the Oakland/Berkeley Hills.

At the event, the group comprised of Black women from various professional backgrounds, honored distinguished local and state leaders whose contributions have shaped civic engagement and advanced critical social issues impacting Black communities.

The evening was hosted by Dr. Shawna Charles, founder of The Charles Communications Group (CCG) headquartered in Los Angeles. Charles served as mistress of ceremonies.

With a track record of elevating voices and empowering communities, Charles’ leadership and insight brought a certain dynamism to the celebration.

“Each year, this event not only celebrates the enduring legacy of our beloved BWOPA founding member, Ella Hill Hutch, but also reaffirms and amplifies our unwavering commitment to building and sustaining Black political power across California,” said Dezie Woods-Jones, BWOPA founding member and State president.

“Ella Hill Hutch’s trailblazing leadership continues to inspire us as we forge ahead, empowering Black women to lead, advocate, and shape a more equitable future for all,” added Woods-Jones.

This year’s event introduced the DWJ Rising Star Award, honoring young leaders like Solano County Board Supervisors-elect Cassandra James, Danielle Motley-Lewis, Naomi Waters and newly elected State Assemblymember elect Rhodesia Ransom (D-Stockton).

According to organizers, the awardees all exemplify “the next generation of changemakers.”

Other awardees included:

Lifetime Achievement Awardees: Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA-12) and Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson
Man of the Year: Kenneth Maxey, CEO of the Greater SF Bay Area Urban League
President’s Corporate Award: Yvette Radford, Kaiser Permanente
In the Spirit of Ella State and Chapter Awards: Dr. Carolyn Greene, Dr. Marcella K. Smith, Dr. Carolyn Drake, Tinisch Hollins, Jackie Jones, Gloria Burgess Johnson, Tamika L’Ecluse, Ellen Nash, Betty Reid Soskin, and Ay’Anna Moody.

BWOPA also celebrated local champions across its chapters, including leaders in voter education, healthcare, criminal justice reform, and community advocacy.

In a statement, BWOPA said, “Honoring Ella Hill Hutch’s legacy, BWOPA recognizes her pioneering efforts as the first Black woman elected to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Her tireless work amplifying underrepresented voices continues to inspire BWOPA’s mission to build Black political power across California.”

“We extend our heartfelt thanks to our members, partners and allies who believe in BWOPA’s vision to invest in building power for Black women’s leadership,” said LaNiece Jones, BWOPA State executive director. “Your support ensures that Black women have a voice at decision-making tables locally, regionally, statewide, and nationally, advancing diversity and equity in leadership spaces.”