Hawaii - Mortgage Fraud Resources

Operation "Malicious Mortgage" has been instituted by Hawaii's FBI office to crack down on fraud against homeowners. While this is a national FBI program, cases of mortgage fraud have increased recently in Hawaii. Hawaii-based financial firms have also been actively training their employees how to spot - and report - cases of mortgage fraud that may be occurring.

This statewide crackdown is reflected in governmental activities as well as the Better Business Bureau in Honolulu and the state's department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has reported more reported cases of mortgage fraud.

The FBI field offices are responsible for investigating potential cases of fraud and working with offices of state and the federal Attorney Generals 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 Division of Financial Institutions helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. The Department of Appraiser Licensing 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.

A list of statewide contacts to address mortgage fraud is listed below.

FBI Field Office, Honolulu
http://honolulu.fbi.gov/
Prince Jonah Kuhio Federal Building,
300 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 4-230
Kalanianaole FOB
Honolulu, HI 96850-0053
Phone: (808) 566-4300

Hawaii Department of the Attorney General
http://hawaii.gov/ag/
425 Queen Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-1500

Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs
Office of Consumer Protection
http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/
235 South Beretania Street
Leiopapa A. Kamehameha Building
Honolulu, HI 96813-2419
Phone: (808) 587-3222
Email: ocp@dcca.hawaii.gov

Division of Financial Institutions
http://hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/dfi
P.O. Box 2054
Honolulu, HI 96805
Phone: (808) 586-2820
Email: dfi@dcca.hawaii.gov

Real Estate Branch
www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/real/
Kim Kalakaua Building, Room 333
335 Merchant Street
Honolulu, HI 96813
Phone: (808) 586-2643
hirec@dcca.hawaii.gov

Professional and Vocational Licensing: Real Estate Appraiser
http://www.hawaii.gov/dcca/areas/pvl/programs/realestateappraiser/
DCCA-PVL
Attn: REA
P.O. Box 3469
Honolulu, HI 96801
Phone: (808) 587-3295
Email: appraiser@dcca.hawaii.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Honolulu Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=hi&topic=offices
500 Ala Moana Blvd., Suite 3A
Honolulu, HI 96813-4918
Phone: (808) 522-8175
Email: info@fhaoutreach.com

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
Region5@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

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

Better Business Bureau of Hawaii
www.hawaii.bbb.org
First Hawaiian Tower
1132 Bishop Street, Ste. 615
Honolulu, HI 96813 -2822
Phone: (808) 536-6956
Toll Free (877) 222- 6551 (from neighbor islands)
E-mail: info@hawaii.bbb.org