Con artists thrive

As tens of thousands of Los Angeles County residents lost their homes to foreclosures in recent years, a Van Nuys businessman and his associate knocked on doors and mailed out fliers offering "Foreclosure Relief Services" to desperate homeowners.Troy Anderson in the Daily News.

The two men, ages 59 and 71, allegedly told homeowners they could stop foreclosure proceedings if they paid them a $500 monthly fee.

But prosecutors say instead they swindled victims out of the equity in their homes in North Hollywood, Glendale and other communities around Los Angeles.