That scam involves a letter purportedly from a California law firm soliciting persons to join a legal action against mortgage companies in the state, explained an IC3 alert released Friday. To participate in the "Mass Joinder Litigation," consumers were asked to pay a nonrefundable upfront fee ranging from $2000 to $5000.

"The law firm made a wide variety of claims and sales pitches and offered legal and litigation services, with the goal of taking money from the victim," the IC3 noted.

The letter claims to be from a law firm called Kramer & Kaslow. While that firm is a real one and it is involved in such a lawsuit, the firm disavows any connection to the letter that's been making the online rounds for months. In a statement issued to homeowner advocate , Philip Kramer declared: "The mailer was NOT approved by me. I did NOT authorize the mailer. I would NOT have authorized the mailer if I had been asked in advance."

Kramer went on to claim that another law firm was behind the scam letter. "I'm not opposed to representing a large number of clients in my mass joinder cases," he explained. "In fact, that is the idea of delivering economy of scale to clients and being able to properly litigate against banks."

"However," , "I am opposed to careless and aggressive marketing campaigns, and I never was asked, nor did I approve, that law firm to market under my name, and/or to pose as my law firm when speaking with prospective clients."