Iowa - Mortgage Fraud Resources

Many of the mortgage fraud cases that occur in Iowa involve various violations of the Truth in Lending Act, including intentionally misleading borrowers and failing to provide required disclosures. In response, the state has taken a variety of steps, establishing various disclosure and advertising requirements, rights of rescission, and penalties for violating the Truth in Lending Act (TILA).

The state has a variety of organizations and agencies that are responsible for investigating and prosecuting cases of mortgage fraud, or which can simply act as resources for consumers seeking information on the subject. Many of these and their contact information are listed below.

The state Office of the Attorney General is a good place to start and has a consumer complaint division for persons who wish to lodge civil or criminal complaints regarding a business transaction. FBI field offices also investigate potential cases of fraud and work with the state and federal attorney s general to prosecute criminals. Offices of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) can help mortgage applicants find the resources they need to make smart mortgage decisions.

The Iowa Division of Banking and Division of Credit Unions help to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses they oversee. The Division of Banking also provides a Mortgage Help Hotline (see below) and other resources for homeowners facing foreclosure that can help consumers navigate their situation without becoming victims of mortgage fraud.

The Real Estate Appraisers have numerous sources of mortgage fraud information for consumers and can direct them to appropriate contacts for specific questions on mortgage fraud.

The Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau regulates a number of professions, including real estate salespeople and brokers, and real estate appraisers. It fields consumer complaints and exercises disciplinary authority for licensees under its jurisdiction

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


Iowa Office of the Attorney General
http://www.iowa.gov/government/ag/
Consumer Protection Division
1305 E. Walnut Street
Des Moines IA 50319
Phone: (515) 281-5926
Toll-free: (888) 777-4590
Email: consumer protection@ag.state.ia.us
Consumer Complaint Form
http://www.state.ia.us/government/ag/forminfo.htm

Iowa Division of Banking
http://www.idob.state.ia.us/
200 East Grand Avenue, Suite 300
Des Moines, IA 50309-1827
Phone: (515) 281-4014
Mortgage Help Hotline: (877) 622-4866

Iowa Division of Credit Unions
www.iacudiv.state.ia.us/
200 East Grand Avenue, Suite 370
Des Moines, Iowa, 50309
Phone: (515) 281-6514

Iowa Professional Licensing Bureau
Real Estate Salespersons and Brokers
www.state.ia.us/government/com/prof/sales/home.html
1920 S.E. Hulsizer Road
Ankeny, IA 50021-3941
Phone: (515) 281-7393

Real Estate Appraisers
www.state.ia.us/government/com/prof/appraiser/home.html
Iowa Appraiser Examining Board
1920 S.E. Hulsizer Road
Ankeny, IA 50021-3941
Phone: (515) 281- 4126

FBI Omaha Field Office
http://omaha.fbi.gov/
10755 Burt Street
Omaha, NE 68114-2000
Phone: (402) 493-8688
Email: omaha@ic.fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Des Moines Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ia&topic=offices
210 Walnut Street, Room 239
Des Moines, IA 50309-2155
Phone: (515) 284-4512
Email: IA_Webmanager@hud.gov

National Credit Union Administration
Region IV - Austin
http://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
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

Better Business Bureaus
Better Business Bureau of Central & Eastern Iowa
www.desmoines.bbb.org
505 5th Ave., Ste. 950
Des Moines, IA 50309-2375
Phone: (515) 243-8137
Toll-free: (800) 222-1600
E-mail: info@dm.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau Serving Nebraska, South Dakota and Southwest Iowa
www.bbbnebraska.org
11811 P Street
Omaha, NE 68137
Phone: (402) 391-7612
E-mail: info@bbbnebraska.org