New York - Mortgage Fraud Resources

There have been a number of large -scale mortgage fraud rings that have been broken up around the state of New York over the years. Following the collapse of the housing bubble, the number rose even more dramatically. 

A bill called The Fighting Real Estate Fraud Act of 2009, was designed to establish a competitive $100 million annual grant program within the Department of Justice for local district attorney offices in New York and all 50 states. Funds will be used to hire investigators, forensic accountants and attorneys at DA offices that show a need for additional resources to combat real estate related scams.

This and state legislation that has increased penalties on convicted mortgage fraud artists are helping New York homeowners combat this problem. Other resources for residents are listed below.

FBI field offices are responsible for investigating potential cases of fraud and work with the offices of the state and federal 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 New York State Banking Department helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercises enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. The state's Board of Real Estate and Board of Real Estate Appraisal are both contained within the New York State Department of Licensing Services, which receives and investigates complaints against licensees within its jurisdiction..,

and Appraiser divisions that have 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 forth guidelines in which all businesses should operate and will take steps to ensure that consumers are being treated fairly by businesses.


New York State Office of the Attorney General
http://www.oag.state.ny.us/home.html
Consumer Frauds Bureau
The Capitol
Albany, NY 12224-0341
Consumer Helpline: (800) 771-7755

New York Banking Department
http://www.banking.state.ny.us/
Consumer Help Unit
One State Street
New York, NY 10004-1417
Phone: (212) 709-1673
Consumer Help Line: 877-BANK-NYS (877-226-5697)
Email: consumer@banking.state.ny.us

New York State Department of Licensing Services
http://www.dos.state.ny.us/lcns/licensing.html
P.O. Box 22001
Albany, NY 12201-2001
Phone: (518) 474-4429
Email: licensing@dos.state.ny.us

New York State Consumer Protection Board
http://www.consumer.state.ny.us/
5 Empire State Plaza, Suite 2101
Albany, New York 12223-1556
Phone: (518) 474-8583
Toll-free: (800) 697-1220
Email: webmaster@consumer.state.ny.us

FBI Field Offices
Albany Division
http://albany.fbi.gov/
200 McCarty Avenue
Albany, NY 12209-2095
Phone: (518) 465-7551

New York City Division
http://newyork.fbi.gov/
26 Federal Plaza, 23rd Floor
New York, NY 10278-0004
Phone: (212) 384-1000
Email: ny1@ic.fbi.gov

Buffalo Division
http://buffalo.fbi.gov/
One FBI Plaza
Buffalo, NY 14202-2698
Phone: (716) 856-7800
Email: buffalo@ic.fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
New York Regional Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ny&topic=offices
Jacob K. Javits Federal Building
26 Federal Plaza, Suite 3541
New York, NY 10278-0068
Phone: (212) 264-8000
TTY: (212) 264-0927
Email: NY_Webmanager@hud.gov

Albany Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ny&topic=offices
52 Corporate Circle
Albany, NY 12203-5121
Phone: (518) 464-4200
Email: NY_Webmanager@hud.gov

Buffalo Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ny&topic=offices
Lafayette Court
465 Main Street, 2nd Floor
Buffalo, NY 14203-1780
Phone: (716) 551-5755
TTY: (716) 551-5787
Email: NY_Webmanager@hud.gov

Syracuse Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=ny&topic=offices
128 E. Jefferson Street
Syracuse, NY 13202
Phone: (315) 477-0616
Email: NY_Webmanager@hud.gov

National Credit Union Administration
Region 1 - Albany
www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region1.htm
9 Washington Square
Washington Avenue Extension
Albany, NY 12205
Phone: (518) 862-7400
Email : Region1@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

Northeast Region Office
Harborside Financial Center Plaza Five, Suite 1600
Jersey City, New Jersey 07311
Phone: (201) 413-1000

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 - Upstate New York
www.upstateny.bbb.org
100 Bryant Woods
South Amherst, NY 14228
Phone: (716) 881-5222
Toll-free: (800) 828-5000
E-mail: info@upstatenybbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Metropolitan New York
www.newyork.bbb.org
257 Park Avenue South, 4th Floor
New York, NY 10010-7384
Phone: (212) 533-6200
E-mail: inquiry@newyork.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau Serving Long Island
http://www.newyork.bbb.org
399 Conklin Street, Suite 300
Farmingdale, NY 11735
Phone: (516) 420-0500
Email: LongIslandBBB@newyork.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau Serving the Mid-Hudson Region
http://www.newyork.bbb.org
150 White Plains Road, Suite 107
Tarrytown, NY 10591-5521
Phone: (914) 333-0550
Email: MHInquiries@newyork.bbb.org