Delaware - Mortgage Fraud Resources

Loan originators of any kind are required to be licensed in the state of Delaware before they are allowed to do business there.

The state defines a mortgage loan originator as an employee or independent contractor of a licensed Delaware Mortgage Broker or Lender. The law requires that an aspiring mortgage officer apply to the Office of the State Bank Commissioner for a mortgage loan originator license, establishes initial and continuing education requirements for licensees, and authorizes the Commissioner to adopt regulations to facilitate participation in the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System.

Despite this law, mortgage fraud remains an issue that affects residents throughout the state. Below is a list of agencies and organizations that either investigate mortgage fraud in Delaware or those that can provide assistance to state residents in dealing with such fraud.

The FBI field offices are responsible for investigating potential cases of fraud and work with 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 Office of the Delaware State Bank Commissioner helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. The Real Estate Commission 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 being treated fairly.

Some of the state, federal and private resources that can help consumers deal with mortgage fraud are listed below, along with their contact information.

Delaware Attorney General
http://attorneygeneral.delaware.gov/
820 N. French Street
Wilmington, Delaware 19801
Civil Division: (302) 577-8400
Email: Attorney.General@State.DE.US

Fraud and Consumer Protection Division
Phone: (302) 577-8600
Consumer Protection Hotline: (800) 220-5424
Email: consumer.protection@state.de.us

Delaware Office of the State Bank Commissioner
http://banking.delaware.gov
555 East Lockerman Street, Suite 210
Dover, DE 19901
Phone: (302) 739-4235

State of Delaware Real Estate Commission
http://www.dpr.delaware.gov/boards/realestate/index.shtml
Cannon Building, Suite 203
861 Silver Lake Blvd.
Dover, DE 19904
Phone: (302) 744-4500
Email: customerservice.dpr@state.de.us

FBI Baltimore Field Office
http://baltimore.fbi.gov/
2600 Lord Baltimore Drive
Baltimore, MD 21244
Phone: (410) 265-8080

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Wilmington Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=de&topic=offices
920 King Street, Suite 404
Wilmington, DE 19801-3016
Phone: (302) 573-6300

National Credit Union Administration
Region II - Capital
http://www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region2.htm
1775 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3437
Phone: (703) 519-4600
Email: Region2@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

Northeast Region Office
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 affiliate:
http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/MemberOrganizations/tabid/2574/Default.aspx

Better Business Bureau of Delaware
www.delaware.bbb.org
60 Reads Way
New Castle DE 19720
Phone: (302) 230-0108
E-mail: info@delaware.bbb.org