Connecticut -Mortgage Fraud Resources

More scrutiny has been given to mortgage applications over the past few years in Connecticut as the housing crisis has grown. As a result, more cases of mortgage fraud have been discovered, leading to increased law enforcement involvement.

Some cases in that state that would have been investigated by the FBI are now handled by the Connecticut Financial Crimes Task Force, which includes the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the Secret Service, the State Department Diplomatic Security Service, and state and local police. This is because the FBI has been inundated with cases around the country, and transferring some of the investigations to state-based agencies is allowing for a faster turnaround of investigations.

Based on that, state and local police can be a good place for consumers to contact if they believe mortgage fraud has been committed. Professionals in these local law enforcement agencies can refer cases to the Financial Crimes Task Force as needed. Other resources are listed below.
FBI field offices investigate potential cases of fraud and work with the state and federal 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 Connecticut Department of Banking helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. The Department of Consumer Protection's Real Estate and Appraiser Division has numerous sources of mortgage fraud information for consumers and can direct them to appropriate contacts for specific questions on mortgage fraud.

Finally, the Better Business Bureau sets guidelines by which businesses should operate and takes steps to ensure that consumers are treated fairly.

Connecticut Office of the Attorney General
http://www.ct.gov/ag/site/default.asp
55 Elm Street
Hartford, Connecticut 06141-0120
Phone: (860) 808-5318
Fax: (860) 808-5387
Email: attorney.general@po.state.ct.us

State of Connecticut Department of Banking
Bank Examination Division
http://www.ct.gov/dob/site/default.asp
E-mail: banking.complaints@ct.gov
260 Constitution Plaza
Hartford, CT 06103-1800
Phone: (860) 240-8187
Toll-free: (800) 831-7225

Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection
Real Estate & Appraisal Dept.
http://www.ct.gov/dcp/cwp/view.asp?a=1624&Q=276028&PM=1&dcpNav=|
165 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, Connecticut 06106-1630
Phone: (860) 713-6150

FBI Field Office
New Haven Division
http://newhaven.fbi.gov/
White Collar Crime Program
600 State Street
New Haven, Connecticut 06511-6505
Phone: (203) 777-6311
Email: newhaven@ic.fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Hartford Field Office
http://www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ct&topic=offices
One Corporate Center
20 Church Street, 19th Floor
Hartford, CT 06103-3220
Phone: (860) 240-4800 x3100
Email: ct_webmanager@hud.gov

National Credit Union Administration
Region 1 - Albany
http://www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region1.htm
9 Washington Square
Washington Avenue Extension
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: (518) 862-7400
Email: Region1@ncua.gov

U.S. Treasury Office of Thrift Supervision
1700 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 20552
Consumer Complaints
www.ots.treas.gov/resultsort.cfm?catNumber=88&dl=17&edit=1
Phone: (800) 842-6929
E-mail: consumer.complaint@ots.treas.gov

OTS Northeast Region
Harborside Financial Center Plaza Five
Suite 1600
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Phone: (201) 413-1000

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

To locate your local office:
http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/MemberOrganizations/tabid/2574/Default.aspx

Better Business Bureau
Better Business Bureau - Wallingford
http://www.connecticut.bbb.org
94 South Turnpike Road
Wallingford, CT 06492-4322
Phone: (203) 269-2700
E-mail: info@ctbbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Central New England
http://www.worcester.bbb.org
340 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01608
Phone: 866-566-9222
Email: worcester@cne.bbb.org