AP - More than 1,000 people were defrauded out of about $70 million by a group advertising the dream of homeownership in what turned out to be a nightmare Ponzi scheme, federal and Maryland officials said Monday.

AP - Five people face charges in what prosecutors say was a mortgage scheme that defrauded more than 1,000 people of more than $70 million.

BusinessWeek Online - Entrepreneur Michael Bissell worries about losing his business, his house, or both. His 10-year-old Web design firm in Portland, Ore., is struggling as customers fall behind on their bills. To cover salary and other expenses, Bissell tapped into his home last year for extra cash, relying on his exotic mortgage, which gives him the option to pay less than the monthly interest and principal for a while. But that source of money is running dry: The payment on his home loan will soon jump significantly. "I have no padding," says Bissell.

AP - Bank of America Corp. has officially dropped the Countrywide Home Loans name as part of its integration of the mortgage lender, which was acquired last year.

AP - The manager of General Motors' employee stock fund has sold off all remaining shares of the troubled auto maker, which is closing plants and slashing costs in a bid to avoid bankruptcy.

AP - Mortgage finance company Freddie Mac, coping with the apparent suicide of its acting chief financial officer, said Friday that its former chief executive is coming back temporarily to help oversee the company's finances.

If you are in severe debt problem, stop worrying about it and start working on a debt relief plan. It is advisable that you try to solve your debt problems all by yourself. However, you can also opt for professional debt relief options if you are not able to manage your debts on your own.

The debt relief options are discussed in the following lines.

Self help debt reduction

After evaluating your existing loans/bills, you can create a budget and make a conscious effort to follow it in order to clear your debts on your own.

Credit counseling service

When you opt for credit counseling service, a credit counselor analyzes your financial situation and offers suggestions on how to manage your debt properly. One of the major advantages of credit counseling is that the counselor prepares a personalized debt relief plan for you.

Debt management plan

In a debt management plan, a credit counselor negotiates with your creditors so as to reduce the interest rates on your loans. With the approval of your creditors, your counselor finalizes a monthly payment that you need to pay towards clearing your debts. Debt management plan does not adversely affect your credit score.

Debt settlement program

Debt settlement program may help in times of severe financial crisis. After you enroll in a debt settlement program, the company starts negotiating with your creditors in order to reduce the amount of your total debt. With the help of this program, you’ll be able to get rid of your debt quickly.

Consolidation of debts

In case of debt consolidation, a company negotiates with your creditors in order to reduce the interest rates. With your creditors’ approval, the consolidation company decides upon a monthly payment. Every month, you make the approved payment to the company, which then distributes it to your creditors on your behalf. You can also consolidate your multiple debts by taking out a personal loan.

Apart from the debt relief options stated above, you can also file bankruptcy. However, it should be your last resort as it ruins your credit score by about 250 points.

AP - H&R Block Inc. said Friday it prepared 3.1 percent fewer returns in the just-completed tax filing season, although tax preparation revenue rose slightly because of higher average fees and more complex returns.

BusinessWeek Online - Entrepreneur Michael Bissell worries about losing his business, his house, or both. His 10-year-old Web design firm in Portland, Ore., is struggling as customers fall behind on their bills. To cover salary and other expenses, Bissell tapped into his home last year for extra cash, relying on his exotic mortgage, which gives him the option to pay less than the monthly interest and principal for a while. But that source of money is running dry: The payment on his home loan will soon jump significantly. "I have no padding," says Bissell.

AP - After taking the role of acting chief financial officer when the government seized control of the company in September, Kellermann worked for several weeks alongside federal regulators known as "shadows," who stood by executives' sides at all times, questioning their calls and turning them over for government approval.