Virginia - Mortgage Fraud Resources

A group of townhouses in a five-block area in Woodbridge were bought and resold quickly in late 2007 for a large profit, even as the real estate market was cooling and unsold homes dotted the neighborhood. The new buyers sometimes failed to pay the mortgages, sending homes into foreclosure and hurting lenders. Renters found themselves unexpectedly forced to move.

It wasn't long after that the FBI launched a mortgage fraud task force, gathering federal prosecutors and law enforcement officials from Prince William, Loudoun and Fairfax counties to map out a strategy to tackle the issue region-wide. Over the past several years, the same situation has been repeated - local and federal law enforcement and investigating agencies looking into possible mortgage fraud cases.

The fact is that mortgage fraud continues to be an issue as the housing market attempts to recover from a bubble collapse. These resources listed below can be contacted to learn more about the prosecution and prevention of such fraud.

FBI field offices are responsible for investigating potential cases of fraud and working with 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 Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions helps to set rules, investigate complaints and exercise enforcement/disciplinary authority over the businesses it oversees. It also tracks the mortgage lenders doing business in the state. The Virginia Real Estate Board 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.

Attorney General of Virginia
http://www.oag.state.va.us
900 East Main Street
Richmond, VA 23219
Phone: (804) 786-2071

Consumer Assistance
http://www.oag.state.va.us/CONSUMER/index.html

Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services
Office of Consumer Affairs
http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/
102 Governor Street
Richmond, Virginia 23219
Phone: (804) 786-2024
Toll-Free: (800) 552-9963
Consumer Hotline: (800) 552-9963
Email: webmaster.vdacs@vdacs.virginia.gov

Virginia Bureau of Financial Institutions
www.scc.virginia.gov/bfi/index.aspx
PO Box 640
Richmond, VA 23218-0640
Phone: (804) 371-9657
Consumer Complaints: (804) 371-9705
Email: bfiquestions@scc.virginia.gov

Virginia Department of Professional and Occupational Regulation
www.dpor.virginia.gov
9960 Mayland Drive, Ste. 400
Richmond, VA 23233
Phone: (804) 367-8500
Toll-free: (804) 367-8500

Real Estate Appraiser Board
http://www.dpor.virginia.gov/dporweb/apr_main.cfm
9960 Mayland Drive, Suite 400
Richmond, VA 23233-1463
Phone: (804) 367-2039
Email: REAppraisers@dpor.virginia.gov

FBI Field Offices
Norfolk Division
http://norfolk.fbi.gov/
150 Corporate Blvd
Norfolk, VA 23502-4999
Phone: (757) 455-0100

Richmond Division
http://richmond.fbi.gov/
1970 E. Parham Rd.
Richmond, VA 23228
Phone: (804) 261-1044
Email: Richmond@ic.fbi.gov

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
Richmond Field Office
www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=va
600 East Broad Street
Richmond, VA 23219-4920
Phone: (804) 771-2100
Email: va_webmanager@hud.gov

National Credit Union Administration
Region II - Capital
www.ncua.gov/AboutNcua/org/Region2.htm
1775 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3437
Phone: (703) 519-4600
Email: Region2@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
Email: consumer.complaint@ots.treas.gov

Southeast Region Office
1475 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Phone: (404) 888-0771

National Fair Housing Alliance
http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/
1212 New York Avenue, NW Ste 525
Washington, DC 2005
Phone: (202) 898-1661
Email: nfha@nationalfairhousing.org

To locate your local affiliate:
http://www.nationalfairhousing.org/MemberOrganizations/tabid/2574/Default.aspx

Better Business Bureaus
Better Business Bureau of Metro Washington DC
www.dc.bbb.org
1411 K St., NW, Suite 1000
Washington, DC 20005-3404
Phone: (202) 393-8000
Email: info@mybbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Greater Hampton Roads
www.norfolk.bbb.org
586 Virginian Drive
Norfolk, VA 23505
Phone: (757) 531-1300
Fax: (757) 531-1388
Email: info@hamptonroadsbbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Central Virginia
www.richmond.bbb.org
720 Moorefield Park Dr., Suite 300
Richmond, VA 23219-2332
Phone: (804) 648-0016
Email: info@richmond.bbb.org

Better Business Bureau of Western Virginia
www.vabbb.org
31 West Campbell Avenue
Roanoke, VA 24011-1301
Phone: (540) 342-3455
Toll-free: (800) 533-5501
Email: info@roanoke.bbb.org