Featured

Countrywide Cashing in on Surprising Group of Homeowners

As the foreclosure crisis tightens its grip on most of the country, a surprising part of the United States is experiencing the opposite of declining property values.  Louisiana and Texas, still recovering from the ravages of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, are displaying a remarkable rebound in the housing market. 

The West South Central region is the only part of the country that reported an increase in housing prices for the first quarter of 2008, according to the latest report by the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight.  Texas showed a 4.7% increase in housing values and Louisiana a 3.3% increase.

Hurricane Victims Targets for Foreclosure

While that sounds like good news, it’s actually making hurricane victims targets for foreclosure. “They’re trying to steal my home,” said Hurricane Rita victim and Countrywide borrower Derrick Haley.  Haley’s Lake Charles home was severely damaged by Hurricane Rita in September of 2005.  Shortly after the storm, Countrywide Home Loans enacted what they called a “Hurricane Relief Program.” 

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Mortgage Bail-Out Bill Falls Short

The mortgage bail-out bill just passed by Congress falls far short, when it comes to holding those responsible for this mess accountable.  Attorney Terry Smiljanich of the Consumer Warning Network recently appeared on the Tampa FOX affiliate’s “Your Turn” talk show to discuss the mortgage bail-out. 

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CWN Staff

Kim Fowlkes

Kim Fowlkes was born in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia, and received a degree from Hillsborough Community College. She has extensive experience as a paralegal. Read more »

Chris Hoyer

Chris "The Mad Man" Hoyer

Stay tuned, More to come...

Frank Martelli

Frank Martelli was employed in law enforcement for over twenty-five years. During this time, he worked for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office in Tampa, Florida. Read more »

Michael Mihok

Mike was born and raised in Northeastern Ohio. After high school he entered the U.S. Air Force in 1962 where he was assigned to a Military Police Unit for four years. Read more »

Angie Moreschi

Angie has 20 years working as an investigative journalist at TV stations all over the country. She is a national award winning producer, reporter and anchor. Read more »

John Newcomer

Being the son of parents that survived "The Great Depression" John was taught at an early age the value of family and hard work. His first job was at the age of 12 delivering the evening newspaper Read more »

Jim Ross

Investigating consumer fraud, corruption and wrong-doing for the past 25 years, Jim Ross came to The Consumer Warning Network from the Economic Crimes Unit of Florida Attorney General Read more »

Al Scudieri

Al Scudieri is a native of New York City who graduated from the City University of NY. He joined the FBI in 1969 as a Special Agent and was assigned at New York, Alabama and Washington, D.C. Read more »

Terry Smiljanich

Terry is part of the original baby boomer generation, born at MacDill Airfield, Tampa, Florida, shortly after World War II, to a military family. His dad was part of the D-Day Read more »

Chad Soriano

Chad Soriano brings more than 12 years of experience as a television news videographer and still camera photographer. Chad worked at Tampa's Fox Television station, WTVT. Read more »

Bob Ulmer

Bob is originally from New Jersey and after graduating from Niagara University with a degree in Accounting, he spent 3 years as a US Army officer. He is a Vietnam veteran. Read more »

Larry Wiezycki

Larry´s unique brand of television post production, shooting and editing has been broadcast all over the country in both national and local feature programming. Read more »

About Us

Who We Are

Consumer Warning Network comes online

The inaugural blog post for the Consumer Warning Network. Here we’ll be posting news articles, stories, and warnings - basically any information relevant to everyday people about the many flavors of consumer fraud going on all around us each and every day. We’ll have tips and general information gathered from our full-time investigative team on topics ranging from discriminatory credit scoring practices to predatory lending. Where appropriate we’ll provide information on how and where you can obtain help. Check back often for updates on our investigations.