Louisiana - Mortgage Fraud Resources

Beginning in 2008, the state of Louisiana began requiring that all mortgage license holders participate in and submit their names and credentials to the National Mortgage Licensing System (NMLS).

The NMLS officially launched on January 2, 2008 and was the culmination of a four-year effort that began with Mississippi state regulators and spread to other states. It is just one part of a multi-faceted plan to enhance consumer protection, improve regulation, increase uniformity of mortgage supervision and streamline the licensing process.

These efforts include a number of measures aimed at mortgage originators, including coordinated supervision; improved regulatory practices; consistent standards for testing and training; and uniform standards for license applications, renewals and annual reports. In short, the NMLS is designed to help borrowers have more access to qualified, reputable lenders, thereby decreasing the potential for fraudulent activities.

The state has a variety federal, state and private agencies and organizations that are either 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.

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 Office of Financial Institutions helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. The Real Estate Commission and Appraisers Board each have numerous sources of mortgage fraud information for consumers and can direct them to appropriate contacts for specific questions on mortgage fraud.

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

Louisiana Office of the Attorney General
Consumer Protection Section
http://www.ag.state.la.us/
1885 North 3rd Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
P.O. Box 94005
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Phone: (225) 326-6499
Toll Free: (800) 351-4889
Email: ConsumerInfo@ag.state.la.us

Louisiana Office of Financial Institutions
http://www.ofi.louisiana.gov
PO Box 94095
Baton Rouge, LA 70804
Phone: (225) 925-4660

Louisiana Real Estate Commission
www.lrec.state.la.us/
P.O. Box 14785
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4785
Phone: (225) 925-1923
Email: info@lrec.state.la.us

Louisiana Real Estate Appraisers Board
www.lreasbc.state.la.us/
P.O. Box 14785
Baton Rouge, LA 70898-4785
Phone: (225) 765-0191
Toll free: (800) 821-4529 - in-state only

FBI New Orleans Division
http://neworleans.fbi.gov/
2901 Leon C. Simon Dr.
New Orleans, LA 70126-1061
Phone: (504) 816-3000

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=la&topic=offices
New Orleans Field Office
Hale Boggs Building
500 Poydras Street,, 9th Floor
New Orleans, LA 70130-3099
Phone: (504) 589-7201
Email: LA_Webmanager@hud.gov

Shreveport Field Office
401 Edwards Street, Room 1510
Shreveport, LA 71101-5513
Phone: (318) 676-3440
Email: LA_Webmanager@hud.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

West Region Office
225 E. John Carpenter Freeway, Suite 500
Irving, Texas 75062-2326
Phone: (972) 277-9500

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/Greater New Orleans Area
www.neworleans.bbb.org
710 Baronne St., Suite C
New Orleans LA 70113
Phone: (504) 581-6222
E-mail: info@neworleans.bbb.org

Central Louisiana Better Business Bureau
www.alexandria-la.bbb.org
5220-C Rue Verdun
Alexandria, LA 71303
Phone: (318) 473-4494
E-mail: info@alexandria-la.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of South Central Louisiana
www.batonrouge.bbb.org
748 Main Street
Baton Rouge, LA 70802
Phone: (225) 346-5222
E-mail: info@batonrouge.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Southwest Louisiana
www.lakecharles.bbb.org
PO Box 7314
Lake Charles, LA 70606-7314
Phone: (337) 478-6253
E-mail: swlabbb@suddenlinkmail.com

Better Business Bureau of Northeast Louisiana
www.monroe.bbb.org
212 Walnut St., Ste. 210
Monroe, LA 71201 -6707
Phone: (318) 387-4600
E-mail: info@bbbnela.org

The Better Business Bureau
www.shreveport.bbb.org
PO Box 1812
Shreveport, LA 71166-1812
Phone: (318) 473-4494
E-mail: info@alexandria-la.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Layfayette
http://lafayette.bbb.org
4007 West Congress Street, Suite B
Lafayette, LA 70506
Phone: (337) 981-3497
E-mail: info@acadiana.bbb.org