Nevada - Mortgage Fraud Resources

From 2007-09 the state of Nevada had the dubious distinction for being number one in the nation for foreclosures, with one filing for every 70 households, according to the state. Foreclosure scams are a statewide problem, and have led to a significant increase in fraudulent activity around Nevada.

The state's attorney general formed a Mortgage Fraud Strike Force in 2009 to take action against predatory "mortgage rescue" companies and individuals claiming to offer services to stop foreclosures. This task force has wide-ranging powers, utilizing existing resources within the AG's office while working closely with other state agencies with regulatory authority over mortgage lending.

Since its inception, this task force has successfully investigated and prosecuted numerous cases. It is one example of how statewide homeowners are getting help from their government in combating this problem. Yet individuals must also take their own steps to protect themselves from these scams.

The state has a variety of resources available for persons who may have been affected by mortgage fraud or who are seeking information on the subject. Among these, the FBI works with the offices of the state and U.S. attorneys general to prosecute criminals.

Local 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 Nevada Financial Institutions Division helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercises enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. The Real Estate Division 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 treated fairly.

A list of resources is included below that consumers can turn to in dealing with mortgage fraud

Nevada Attorney General
http://ag.state.nv.us/
100 North Carson Street
Carson City, Nevada 89701-4717
Phone: (775) 684-1100
Reno: (775) 688-1818
Las Vegas: (702) 486-3420


Nevada Department of Business and Industry
Consumer Affairs Division
http://www.fyiconsumer.org/
Las Vegas Office
7220 Bermuda St., Ste. B
Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
Phone: (702) 486-7355
Email: ncad@fyiconsumer.org

Reno Office
4600 Kietzke Lane
Bldg. B, Suite 113
Reno, Nevada 89502
Phone: (775) 688-1800
Email: ncad@fyiconsumer.org

Division of Financial Institutions
http://www.fid.state.nv.us/
Las Vegas Office
2785 E. Desert Inn Rd.
Las Vegas, NV 89121
Phone: (702) 486-4120
Email: FIDMaster@fid.state.nv.us

Carson City Office
1179 Fairview Drive
P.O. Box 3239,
Carson City, NV 89702
Phone: (775) 687-5522
Email: FIDMaster@fid.state.nv.us

Real Estate Division
www.red.state.nv.us/
Las Vegas Office
2501 East Sahara Avenue, Ste. 102
Las Vegas, Nevada 89104-4137
Phone: (702) 486-4033
Email: realest@red.state.nv.us

Carson City Office
788 Fairview Drive, Suite 200
Carson City, Nevada 89701-5453
Phone: (775) 687-4280
Email: realest@red.state.nv.us

FBI Las Vegas Field Office
http://lasvegas.fbi.gov
John Lawrence Bailey Bldg.
1787 West Lake Mead Boulevard
Las Vegas, Nevada 89106-2135
Phone: (702) 385-1281
Southern Nevada Mortgage Fraud Task Force: (702) 584-5555
Email: Lasvegas@ic.fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Las Vegas Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/nv/working/lasvegasoffice.cfm
300 S. Las Vegas Blvd.Suite 2900
Las Vegas, 89101-5833
Phone: (702) 366-2100

Reno Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/nv/working/renooffice.cfm
745 West Moana Lane, Suite 360
Reno, NV 89509
Phone: (775) 824-3700
Email: Kenneth_J._LoBene@hud.gov

National Credit Union Administration
Region V - Tempe
www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region5.htm
1230 W. Washington Street, Suite 301
Tempe, AZ 85281
Phone: (602) 302-6000
Email: Region5@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

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 of Southern Nevada
www.vegasbbb.org
6040 South Jones Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89118-2619
Phone: (702) 320-4500
E-mail: scampbell@vegasbbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Northern Nevada, Inc.
www.renobbb.org
991 Bible Way
Reno, NV 89502-2122
Phone: (775) 322-0657
Toll-free:  888-350-4222
E-mail: info@reno.bbb.org