Arizona - Mortgage Fraud Resources

Laws were passed in Arizona in 2007 that made mortgage fraud a felony in virtually all cases. While other states have passed similar laws since then, Arizona has taken a lead in the U.S. in the prosecution of mortgage fraud. Making these crimes a felony increases the likelihood of convictions and makes the crime more of a deterrent.

In recent years cash-back deals have become a form of mortgage fraud whose rapid spread in Arizona has alarmed regulators and real estate industry leaders. Arizona has been particularly hard-hit by such criminal activity because of the comparably high foreclosure rate that accompanied the collapse of the housing bubble from 2007-09.

The list of resources below has been compiled below for anyone who suspects they may be a victim of any type of real estate fraud or scam. The Board of Appraisal and State Department of Real Estate have numerous sources of information for consumers and can direct them to appropriate contacts for specific questions on mortgage fraud.

The FBI field offices also act on any reputable reports of potential fraud. The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offices can help mortgage applicants find the resources they need to make smart mortgage decisions.

And finally the Better Business Bureau sets forth guidelines by which all businesses should operate and will take steps to ensure that consumers are being treated fairly.


Office of the Arizona Attorney General
Consumer Protection and Education
www.azag.gov/consumer/index.html
Consumer Fraud Complaints
www.ag.state.az.us/consumer/complaintformintro.html

Consumer Information and Complaints
1275 W. Washington
Phoenix, Arizona 85007-2926
Phone: (602) 542-5763 or
Toll-free: (800) 352-8431

Tucson Office
400 W. Congress
South Building, Suite 315
Tucson, Arizona 85701-1367
Phone: (520) 628-6504
Toll-free: (800) 352-8431

Arizona Department of Financial Institutions
http://www.azdfi.gov/
2910 North 44th Street, Suite 310
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (602) 255-4421

Arizona Department of Real Estate
http://www.re.state.az.us/
2910 N. 44th St., Suite 100
Phoenix, AZ 85018
Phone: (602) 468-1414

Arizona Board of Appraisal
http://www.appraisal.state.az.us/
1400 West Washington, Suite 360
Phoenix, Arizona 85007
Phone: (602) 542-1539

FBI Field Office
Phoenix Division
http://phoenix.fbi.gov/
White Collar Crime Program
http://phoenix.fbi.gov/pxwcc.htm
201 E. Indianola Avenue, Suite 400
Phoenix, AZ 85012-2080
Phone: (602) 279-5511

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Phoenix Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=az&topic=offices
One N. Central Avenue Suite 600
Phoenix, AZ 85004
Phone: (602) 379-7100

Tucson Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=az&topic=offices
160 North Stone Avenue
Tucson, AZ 85701-1467
Phone: (520) 670-6000

National Credit Union Administration
Region V - Tempe
http://www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region5.htm
1230 W. Washington Street, Suite 301
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: (602) 302-6000
Email: Region5@ncua.gov

U.S. Treasury Office of Thrift Supervision
1700 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20552
Consumer Complaints
http://www.ots.treas.gov/?p=ConsumerComplaintsInquiries
Phone: (800) 842-6929
E-mail: consumer.complaint@ots.treas.gov

Western Region Office
225 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 500
Irving, TX 75062-2326
Phone: (972)277-9500
Mailing address
P.O. Box 619027
Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX
75261-9027

National Fair Housing Alliance
http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/
Arizona Fair Housing Center
615 N. 5th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85003
Phone: (602) 548-1599
E-mail: dredv@aol.com

Southwest Fair Housing Council
2030 East Broadway, Suite 101
Tucson, AZ 85719
Phone: (520) 798-1568
E-mail: swfhc@dakotacom.net

Better Business Bureaus
The Better Business Bureau of Phoenix
http://www.phoenix.bbb.org
4428 N. 12th Street
Phoenix, AZ 85014 -4585
Phone: (602) 264-1721
E-mail: info@phoenix.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Tucson
http://www.tucson.bbb.org
434 S. Williams Blvd., Suite 102
Tucson, AZ 85711
Phone: (520) 888-5353
E-mail: info@tucson.bbb.org