The state accused Jacksonville, Florida-based Summit Software Systems and its owner, Roberto Boligan, of violating the Iowa Consumer Fraud Act. According to an October court filing, Summit attempted to mislead Iowa homeowners into believing his company offered foreclosure prevention services and was affiliated with the U.S. government. 

In mailers delivered to over 3,200 Iowans, Boligan also claimed his company could provide loss mitigation and housing counseling to clients, but masked Summit's identity in the correspondence, the attorney general's office said. 

Although Summit collected fees, it neglected to provide written contracts nor other mandatory disclosures and notices. Boligan failed to perform any of the services promised, according to the filing. The allegations claimed 15 homeowners ended up paying Boligan a total of $30,626.

The settlement requires Summit to fully reimburse affected homeowners and forbids Boligan and his company from conducting future mortgage-foreclosure related business in the Hawkeye State.

"Iowans facing foreclosure are already struggling enough," said Attorney General Brenna Bird in a press release. "For a company to trick them out of money on top of that is just flat wrong. My office is committed to protecting Iowans from fraud, and we are so glad to be able to return Iowa families their hard-earned money."

Without admitting guilt, Boligan agreed to the settlement "to be done with it," he told the Iowa Capital Dispatch, while maintaining Summit had helped Iowa homeowners. 

The attorney general will allow Boligan to pay the state in six $5,000 monthly installments after he indicated he was unable to immediately remit the full settlement amount. The attorney general's office will refund victimized homeowners in the second quarter of 2024. 

The state will also fine Boligan an additional $50,000 should it determine any future violations to the terms of the settlement.

Florida-based Boligan ran a now-deleted Instagram account under the handle of "bertocanfly," which had over 160,000 followers, and also claimed to own multiple software companies. 

Distressed homeowners at risk of foreclosure are a regular target of scammers. In a California case from earlier this year, the president of Grand View Financial was convicted of 100 felony counts after he convinced vulnerable homeowners he would help them avoid foreclosure by eliminating mortgage liens upon transfer of their titles. The scheme, which lasted four years and involved filing of false documents, resulted in over $7 million in losses and the repossession of every victims' properties.