Mortgage Fraud
Suspected Mortgage Fraud
News Releases
- Third Quarter Reports of Mortgage Fraud Up Slightly (01/06/2011) HTML | PDF
- Mortgage Fraud Suspicious Activity Reports Rise (12/14/2010) HTML | PDF
- Department of Justice/FBI Los Angeles Field Office News Release: Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force Holds Mortgage Fraud Summit in Los Angeles (9/30/2010) HTML Only
- FinCEN Reports Suspicious Activity Related to Mortgage Fraud in 2009 HTML |PDF
- FinCEN Analysis: Foreclosure Rescue Scam Reports Increase (06/17/2010) HTML | PDF
- FinCEN Warns Lenders to Guard Against Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Fraud Schemes (04/27/2010) HTML | PDF
- Department of Justice News Release: Attorney General Holder, Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force Announce New Funding Distribution for Enforcement Efforts at Mortgage Fraud Summit in Phoenix (03/25/2010) HTML Only
- Department of Justice News Release: Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force Hosts Mortgage Fraud Summit in Miami (02/24/2010) HTML Only
- FinCEN Issues Mortgage Loan Fraud Update; Warns of Foreclosure Rescue Scam Techniques (02/18/2010) HTML | PDF
- FinCEN Report Shows Connection With Mortgage Fraud and Other Financial Crime (03/16/2009) HTML | PDF
- FinCEN Mortgage Fraud Report – Growth in Mortgage Repurchases Increases Fraud Detection (02/25/2009) HTML | PDF
- FinCEN Releases Updated Mortgage Fraud Report (04/03/2008) HTML | PDF
- FinCEN Assessment Reveals Suspected Mortgage Loan Fraud Continues to Rise (11/03/2006) HTML | PDF
Reports
- Mortgage Loan Fraud Update: Suspicious Activity Report Filings from July 1, 2010-September 30, 2010 (January 2011) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud Update: Suspicious Activity Report Filings from April 1-June 30, 2010 (December 2010) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud Update: Suspicious Activity Report Filings from January 1-March 31, 2010 (December 2010) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud Update: Suspicious Activity Report Filings from October 1-December 31, 2009 (July 2010) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud: Loan Modification and Foreclosure Rescue Scams – Evolving Trends and Patterns in Bank Secrecy Act Reporting (June 2010) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud Update: Suspicious Activity Report Filings from July 1-September 30, 2009 (February 2010) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud Update (published in The SAR Activity Review - Trends, Tips & Issues [Issue 16, October 2009]) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud Connections with Other Financial Crime (March 2009) PDF Only
- Filing Trends in Mortgage Loan Fraud (February 2009) PDF Only
- Mortgage Loan Fraud: An Update of Trends based Upon an Analysis of Suspicious Activity Reports (April 2008) PDF Only
- FinCEN Mortgage Loan Fraud Assessment (November 2006) HTML | PDF
Advisories
- Updated Advisory (FIN-2010-A006) to Financial Institutions on Filing Suspicious Activity Reports Regarding Loan Modification/Foreclosure Rescue Scams HTML| PDF
Speeches
- Prepared Remarks of FinCEN Director James H. Freis, Jr. before the Mortgage Bankers Association of America (03/16/2009) HTML | PDF
Testimony
- Prepared Congressional Testimony of FinCEN Director Freis Regarding Efforts to Combat Mortgage Loan Fraud and Foreclosure Rescue Fraud (05/06/2009) HTML | PDF
Suspected Money Laundering in the Residential Real Estate Industry
News Releases
- FinCEN Report Warns of Money Laundering Methods and Trends in Residential Real Estate Industry (05/01/2008) HTML | PDF
Reports
- Suspected Money Laundering in the Residential Real Estate Industry: An Assessment Based Upon Suspicious Activity Report Filing Analysis (April 2008) PDF Only
Suspected Money Laundering in the Commercial Real Estate Industry
News Releases
- FinCEN Sees Growth in Suspected Money Laundering in Commercial Real Estate Industry (12/05/2006) HTML | PDF
Reports
- Money Laundering in the Commercial Real Estate Industry: An Assessment Based Upon Suspicious Activity Reporting Filing Analysis (December 2006) HTML | PDF
Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (Reverse Mortgages)
News Releases
- FinCEN Warns Lenders to Guard Against Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Fraud Schemes (04/27/2010) HTML | PDF
Advisories
- Advisory (FIN-2010-A005) to Financial Institutions on Filing Suspicious Activity Reports Regarding Home Equity Conversion Mortgage Fraud Schemes HTML | PDF
Mortgage Fraud Cases Supported by BSA Filings
- SARs Lead to Serial Mortgage Fraud Offender
- Mortgage Broker Pleads Guilty to Structuring Charges
- Case for Mortgage Fraud Involving Straw Buyers Supported by SARs
- Proactive Suspicious Activity Report Review Leads to Guilty Pleas in "Cash Back" Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- Bank Secrecy Act Records Help Launch Investigation on Convicted Felon Not Complying with Restitution Order
- Suspicious Activity Reports Detail Transactions in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
- One Hundred SARs Help Outline Size and Scope of Fraudulent Mortgage Elimination Scheme
Other Resources
Resources for the Public
- FTC Leads "Operation Loan Lies" to Stop Fraud and Help Distressed Homeowners
- OCC Offers Tips to Avoid Mortgage Modification and Foreclosure Avoidance Scams
- FTC - Information on foreclosure rescue scams
- FBI - Information on reporting mortgage fraud scams
- HelpWithMyBank.gov - To register a complaint about a national bank
- Office for Victims of Crime (DOJ) - Resources for victims of crime
- HUD - Resources on understanding your mortgage and preventing mortgage fraud
- Federal Reserve Board of Governors – Resources on reporting problems with banks or other financial institutions
- Federal Reserve Board’s 5 Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure Scams
- Federal Reserve System Foreclosure Resource Centers
- OTS - Information on mortgage fraud, identity theft and reporting problems with federal savings and loans associations
- NCUA - Information on filing a complaint concerning a credit union
- FinancialStability.gov - Information regarding the Financial Stability Plan to restore stability to the U.S. financial system, introduced in February 2009 by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner
- U.S. Financial Literacy and Education Commission – Information on financial education
- U.S. Treasurer’s financial literacy initiatives
- HOPE NOW Alliance – Information on foreclosure prevention assistance
Resources for Institutions and Financial Industry Professionals
- FDIC - Staying Alert to Mortgage Fraud
- NeighborWorks® America’s Center for Foreclosure Solutions - Resources for foreclosure prevention professionals
- OCC and OTS Release Mortgage Metrics Reports for Fourth Quarter 2008, First Quarter 2009, and Second Quarter 2009
- FBI's 2008 Mortgage Fraud Report "Year in Review"
Resources on the Making Home Affordable Program
- Making Home Affordable Program on Pace to Offer Help to Millions of Homeowners
- Obama Administration to Launch National Outreach Campaign in Support of Making Home Affordable Program
- Secretaries Geithner, Donovan Announce new Details of Making Home Affordable Program, Highlight Implementation Progress
- Obama Administration Announces New Details on Making Home Affordable Program
- Treasury Announces Requirements for the Making Home Affordable Program
- Administration Launches New Consumer Website for Responsible Homeowners Seeking Relief
- Fannie Mae: Helping Homeowners and Communities
- Freddie Mac Announces Two Initiatives Supporting President Obama's Making Home Affordable Plan