Arkansas - Mortgage Fraud Resources

Cases of reported mortgage fraud more than doubled from 2000-2008 in Arkansas according to a state report. The Arkansas Real Estate Commission has taken an active role in uncovering such cases, although the state's web site recommends that consumers who may have been victims of mortgage fraud first contact a local Better Business Bureau or FBI field office. Local law enforcement agencies may get involved in a case as needed.

FBI field offices are responsible for investigating potential cases of mortgage fraud and work with the offices of the U.S. and Arkansas attorneys general to prosecute criminals. The Housing and Urban Development (HUD) offices can help mortgage applicants find the resources they need to make smart mortgage decisions.

The Arkansas Securities Department helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. The Appraisal Licensing and Certification Board and Real Estate Board Commission have numerous sources of information for consumers and can direct them to appropriate contacts for specific questions on mortgage fraud.

The Better Business Bureau sets forth guidelines in which all businesses should operate and takes steps to ensure that consumers are being treated fairly.

The following list of organizations and contact information may be useful to persons who believe they may have been affected by mortgage fraud or who wish to obtain more information on the subject. 

Arkansas Office of the Attorney General
http://www.ag.arkansas.gov/
Consumer Protection Division
200 Tower Building
323 Center Street
Little Rock, Arkansas 72201
Phone: (501) 682-2341
Statewide: (800) 482-8982
Email: consumer@ag.state.ar.us

State of Arkansas Securities Department
http://www.securities.arkansas.gov/
201 E. Markham
Heritage West Building - Suite 300
Little Rock, AR 72201
Toll-Free: (800) 981-4429 - Investor Protection Hotline
Phone: (501) 324-9260
Phone: (501) 324-9268

Arkansas Real Estate Commission
www.state.ar.us/arec/arecweb.html
612 South Summit Street
Little Rock, AR 72201-4740
Phone: (501) 683-8010

Arkansas Appraiser Licensing and Certification Board
www.state.ar.us/alcb/
101 East Capitol, Suite 430
Little Rock, AR 72201
Phone: 501-296-1843
Email: alcb@mail.state.ar.us

FBI Field Office
Little Rock
http://littlerock.fbi.gov/
White Collar Crime Program
Two Financial Centre, Suite 200
10825 Financial Centre Parkway
Little Rock, AR 72211-3552
Phone: (501) 221-9100
Email: little.rock@ic.fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Little Rock Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/ar/working/littlerockoffice.cfm
425 West Capitol Avenue, Suite 900
Little Rock, AR 72201-3488
Phone: (501) 324-5931

National Credit Union Administration
Region 4 - Austin
www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region4.htm
4807 Spicewood Springs Rd.
Suite 5200
Austin, TX 78759-8490
Phone: (512) 342-5600
Email: Region4@ncua.gov

U.S. Treasury Office of Thrift Supervision
http://www.ots.treas.gov
Complaints: (800) 842-6929
E-mail: consumer.complaint@ots.treas.gov

Southeast Region Office
1475 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Phone: (404) 888-0771

National Fair Housing Alliance
http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/
National Contact:
1212 New York Avenue, NW Ste 525
Washington, DC 2005
Phone: (202) 898-1661
E-mail: nfha@nationalfairhousing.org

Better Business Bureaus
Better Business Bureau of the Mid-South, Inc.
www.midsouth.bbb.org
3693 Tyndale Drive
Memphis, TN 38125
Phone: (901) 759-1300
E-mail: info@bbbmidsouth.org

Better Business Bureau of Arkansas
www.arkansas.bbb.org
12521 Kanis Road
Little Rock, AR 72211
Phone: (501) 664-7274
E-mail: info@bbbarkansas.org