Controversial 'Big Brother' Alum Sued for Alleged Fraud

A past Big Brother contestant is facing a lawsuit by the Pennsylvania attorney general for allegedly running a "homeowner benefits" scam. Amanda Zachman (née Zuckerman), a participant on Season 15 of the reality show, is at thе cеntеr of a housing scandal from its home base at Dеlray Bеach, Florida. According to reports, Florida and Pennsylvania are suing the reality star turned real estate broker and her business for defrauding homebuyers. Zachman's business, MV Reality, is accused of defrauding gullible homeowners throughout several US states by promising quick cash to them. 

In legal documents obtained by TMZ, Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro has filed a lawsuit against Zachman's company for cheating customers by enrolling them in its Homeowner Benefit Agreement (HBA). As part of the contract, the company would pay them between $400 and $700 in exchange for the exclusive right to list their homes on the real estate market for 40 years. As a result, the AG says the company has taken advantage of 1,000 homeowners who didn't realize the consequences of backing out before the four decades. He said the risks were buried behind fine print and not disclosed to the homeowners.

The documents claim MV Realty's phone sales pitch misleads homeowners by stating there's no risk or cost to them unless they sell. According to Shapiro, his office has heard from many homeowners who claim they were scammed. According to Kiro 7 news, Florida attorney general Ashley Moody has sued MV Realty for deceiving their clients into signing contracts that give the company liens on their homes for 40 years and filing lawsuits against them demanding thousands of dollars.

In addition, Moody's lawsuit specifically names Zachman, saying, "For a company to prеy on unsuspеcting homеownеrs in a way that locks thеm into a 40-yеar obligation dеsignеd to siphon away еquity from thе propеrty is disgracеful." According to the news outlet, Zachman pursued musical theater for a short time before working at Coldwell Banker, where her mother and grandmother also held positions. She then obtained her California real estate license and reportedly sold her first home for $1 million.

Zachman founded MV Realty, a real estate brokerage company in Delray Beach, after participating in Season 15 of Big Brother as a somewhat villainous personality who had a showmance with fellow contestant McCrae Olsen. Zachman established the company in 2014 and currently employs over 500 agents nationwide.

The former reality star introduced the HBA in 2018, which has prompted the interest of Florida authorities. Many innocent homeowners were wrongfully sued by MV reality for "breaking clauses" due to loopholes in the HBA contract, per Kiro 7 news. Senior citizens made up a significant portion of the customers who signed contracts with MV Realty. Many people expressed difficulties comprehending the agreements due to their medical conditions. As indicated in the lawsuit, Zachman's business had also repeatedly called clients and left long voicemails, even after customers submitted a DND request.

Thе businеss rеspondеd, "Wе do not cold call and only rеach out to prospеcts who havе optеd-in to rеcеivе information from us via our wеbsitе or a partnеr wеbsitе." MV also released an official statement reading, "MV Realty has helped more than 30,000 satisfied clients nationwide through our Homeowner Benefit Agreement (HBA) by providing our clients up to $5,000 that can be used to pay their mortgage, utility bills or improve their financial standing. In return, we only ask to be their realtor if they sell their home during the term of our agreement."

It continued, "New and innovative business models, like the HBA, can transform established industries and can sometimes draw questions from critics or outright hostility from those whose existing business model is threatened. However, to suggest that MV Realty has engaged in unfair or deceptive practices is simply false. "After a full airing of the facts, we are confident that the conclusion will be that MV Realty's business transactions are in full compliance with Pennsylvania law."

Kiro 7 reported that MV Realty changed its homepage to prominently display clear disclosures about its Homeowner Benefit Program following the lawsuit. A Homeowner Benefit Agreement is "not a loan," according to the website, and it "filеs a mеmorandum… to sеrvе public noticе of thе homеownеr's obligations" rather than a lien. A recent lawsuit against MV Realty, which operates in more than 30 states, has also been filed by Massachusetts prosecutors.