Tallahassee, Florida - The state is suing two central Florida companies for allegedly scamming homeowners trying to rescue their properties from foreclosure.

Attorney General Bill McCollum's office said Monday that National Payment Modification Company and The Bostonian Group allegedly charged homeowners up to $2,500 before doing any work. A phone number for The Bostonian Group has been disconnected.

Officials say the owner of both companies, William Rodriguez, also owns another business being sued by the attorney general's office. In March, authorities obtained an emergency injunction barring that company from charging any upfront fees for foreclosure rescue services. That case is pending in Orange County Circuit Court.

More information is available at myfloridalegal.com/mortgagefraud.