Illinois - Mortgage Fraud Resources

Mortgage fraud is a felony in Illinois and the penalties can be severe. Ultimately, consumers pay the price with higher interest rates and fees on mortgage loans.

The state has a variety of resources available for consumers who are concerned about mortgage fraud, and either wish to report it or learn how to avoid it. Many of these and their contact information are listed below.

Among these, the Chicago Association of Realtors offers loan originator courses for professionals and can provide consumers with information on preferred lenders. The Illinois Division of Banking helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees.

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 Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation maintains a toll-free number (see below) for persons wishing to report mortgage fraud. The department also sets fair practices and guidelines for a variety of state businesses. The department's Division of Banking oversees banks, savings and loans, and mortgage lenders and brokers. The Division of Financial Institutions covers non-bank financial institutions and credit unions, while the Division of Professional Regulation covers the real estate industry, including brokers and appraisers. 

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

Illinois Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Division
http://www.ag.state.il.us/consumers/index.html

Chicago Main Office
100 West Randolph Street
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone: (312) 814-3000
TTY: (312) 814-3374

Springfield Main Office
500 South Second Street
Springfield, IL 62706
Phone: (217) 782-1090
TTY: (217) 785-2771

Carbondale Main Office
1001 East Main Street
Carbondale, IL 62901
Phone: (618) 529-6400/6401
TTY: (618) 529-6403

Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation
http://www.idfpr.com/
Mortgage Fraud Hotline: 800-532-8785

Division of Banking
http://www.obre.state.il.us/default2.htm
500 E. Monroe
Springfield, IL  62701
Phone: (217)782-3000
TDD (217)-524-6644

122 South Michigan Ave., Suite 1900
Chicago, IL  60603
Phone: (312) 793-3000
TDD (312) 793-0291

Division of Financial Institutions
http://www.idfpr.com/dfi/default2.asp
320 W. Washington
Springfield, IL  62786
Phone: (217) 782-2831
Toll-free (877) 710-5331
TDD (217) 785-3022

Division of Professional Regulation
http://www.idfpr.com/DPR/default.asp
Complaint Intake Unit
100 West Randolph Street, Suite 9-300
Chicago, IL 60601
Phone:(312) 814-6910

FBI Field Offices
Chicago
http://chicago.fbi.gov/
White Collar Crime Program
2111 W. Roosevelt Rd.,
Chicago, IL 60608
Phone: (312) 421-6700
Email: chicago@ic.fbi.gov

Springfield
http://springfield.fbi.gov/
White Collar Crime Program
900 East Linton Avenue
Springfield, IL 62703
Phone: (217) 522-9675
Email: springfield@ic.fbi.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

Central Region Office
1 South Wacker Drive - Suite 2000
Chicago, Illinois 60606
Phone (312) 917-5000

National Credit Union Administration
Region IV - 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. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Chicago Regional Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=il&topic=offices
Ralph Metcalfe Fed Building
77 West Jackson Boulevard
Chicago, IL 60604-3507
Phone: (312) 353-5680
Email: il_webmanager@hud.gov

Springfield Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/il/working/springfod.cfm
500 W. Monroe St., Suite 1 SW
Springfield, IL 62704
Phone: (217) 492-4120

Chicago Association of Realtors
www.chicagorealtor.com
200 South Michigan Avenue, Suite 400
Chicago, IL 60604
Phone: (312) 803-4900

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 Bureaus
Better Business Bureau of Chicago
www.chicago.bbb.org
330 N. Wabash, Ste. 2006
Chicago, IL 60611
Phone: (312) 832-0500
E-mail: info@chicago.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Central Illinois
www.peoria.bbb.org
112 Harrison Street
Peoria, IL 61602
Phone: (309) 688-3741
E-mail: bbb@heart.net

Tri-State Better Business Bureau
www.evansville.bbb.org
1139 Washington Square
Evansville, IN 47715
Phone: (812) 473-0202
E-mail: info@evansville.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of E. Missouri & South Illinois
www.stlouis.bbb.org
12 Sunnen Drive, Ste. 121
Saint Louis, MO 63143
Phone: (314) 645-3300
E-mail: bbbstl@stlouisbbb.org