Ohio - Mortgage Fraud Resources

The state of Ohio has take steps large and small to limit the impact of mortgage fraud on the state's economy at a macro level, and on individual homeowners on a local level.

Following the collapse of the housing bubble, Ohio was one of the first states to enact new laws to address mortgage fraud and increase penalties for violators. Among these was a series of new fees that, beginning in 2007, insure lenders and homeowners against title fraud.

The law requires title companies to charge a mortgage lender $35 in fees for insured closing protection. It's insurance that benefits lenders in case employees of the title company walk away with the money without completing the necessary work. The fee insures only the mortgage company; buyers and sellers are required to pay $15 and $50, respectively, to insure themselves.

There are  a variety of resources available to Ohio residents who may have been affected by mortgage fraud or who just want to learn more about the issue.

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 Ohio Commerce Department's Division of Financial Institutions helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. Its Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing 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.

Office of the Ohio Attorney General
http://www.ag.state.oh.us/
30 E. Broad Street, 17th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-3428
Phone: (614) 466-4320

Ohio Department of Commerce
Division of Financial Institutions
http://www.com.ohio.gov/fiin
77 South High Street, 21st Floor
Columbus, OH  43215-6120
Phone: (614) 728-8400
Toll-free: (866) 278-0003
TTY: (800) 750-0750
Email: webdfi@dfi.com.state.oh.us

Division of Real Estate and Professional Licensing
www.com.state.oh.us/real/
77 South High Street, 20th Floor
Columbus, OH 43215-6133
Phone: (614) 466-4100
Email: WebReal@com.state.oh.us

FBI Field Offices
Cincinnati Division
http://cincinnati.fbi.gov/
550 Main Street, Suite 9000
Cincinnati, OH 45202-8501
Phone: (513) 421-4310
Email: cincinnati@fbi.gov

Cleveland Division
http://cleveland.fbi.gov/
1501 Lakeside Avenue
Cleveland, OH 44114
Phone: (216) 522-1400
Email: cleveland.cv@ic.fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=oh&topic=offices
Cincinnati Field Office
632 Vine Street, Fifth Floor
Cincinnati, Ohio 45202
Phone: (513) 684-3451
TTY: (513) 684-6180
Email: oh_webmanager@hud.gov

Cleveland Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=oh&topic=offices
1350 Euclid Avenue, Suite 500
Cleveland, OH 44115-1815
Phone: (216) 522-4058
TTY: (216) 522-2261
Email: oh_webmanager@hud.gov

Columbus Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=oh&topic=offices
200 North High Street
Columbus, OH
43215-2463
Phone: (614) 469-2540
Fax: (614) 469-2432
Email: oh_webmanager@hud.gov

National Credit Union Administration
Region III - Atlanta
www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region3.htm
7000 Central Parkway, Suite 1600
Atlanta, GA 30328
Phone: (678) 443-3000
Email: Region3@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 of Akron
www.akronbbb.org
222 W. Market Street
Akron, OH 44303
Phone: (330) 253-4590
E-mail: info@akron.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau/Canton Regional
www.cantonbbb.org
1434 Cleveland Ave., NW
PO Box 8017
Canton, OH 44711-8017
Phone: (330) 454-9401
E-mail: info@cantonbbb.org

Cincinnati Better Business Bureau
http://cincinnati.bbb.org
7 West 7th Street, Suite 1600
Cincinnati, OH 45202-2023
Phone: (513) 421-3015
E-mail: info@cincinnati.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio, Inc.
www.columbus-ohbbb.org
1169  Dublin Road
Columbus, OH 43215-1005
Phone: (614) 486-6336
E-mail: info@columbus-ohbbb.org

Better Business Bureau, Inc.
www.cleveland.bbb.org
2217 E. 9th Street, Ste. 200
Cleveland, OH 44115-1299
Phone: (216) 241-7678
E-mail: info@cleveland.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Dayton/Miami Valley, Inc.
www.dayton.bbb.org
15 W. Fourth Street, Ste. 300
Dayton, OH 45402-1830
Phone: (937) 222-5825
E-mail: info@dayton.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau Serving NW Ohio & SE Michigan
www.toledobbb.org
7668 King's Pointe Road, Integrity Place
Toledo OH 43617
Phone: (419) 531-3116
E-mail: info@toledobbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Mahoning Valley
www.youngstownbbb.org
International Towers; 25 Market St.
P.O. Box 1495
Youngstown OH 44501
Phone: (330) 744-3111
Toll-free (866) 887-9222
E-mail: info@youngstownbbb.org

The Better Business Bureau Serving West Central Ohio
www.limabbb.org
219 McDonel, PO Box 269
Lima, OH 45801
Phone: (419) 223-7010
E-mail: info@limabbb.org