By Mike Colpitts In an unprecedented move, the agency charged with overseeing the nation’s giant mortgage lenders is taking steps to halt mortgage fraud by the lenders it deals with. The action, by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is the first of its kind since the financial crisis threw the U.S. economy into chaos. The… Continue reading US Government Moves to Prevent Mortgage Fraud
Category: Mortgage Fraud
Former Police Officers in Group of 26 Pleading Guilty in Fraud Scheme
By Mike Colpitts Four retired Las Vegas police officers and two real estate agents are among a group of 26 people who have pled guilty to federal charges related to a major fraud scheme involving a dozen Nevada condominium complexes. Federal prosecutors say the conspiracy was bank rolled with more than $8 million funneled through… Continue reading Former Police Officers in Group of 26 Pleading Guilty in Fraud Scheme
States Rip Off Foreclosure Victims
By Mike Colpitts Almost $1-billion targeted to victims of banking foreclosure fraud is being ripped off from foreclosure victims to be used to pay for other programs for states facing serious financial deficits. The nation’s largest five banks agreed to pay a $25 billion settlement as part of their agreement to settle allegations of illegal… Continue reading States Rip Off Foreclosure Victims
Former SEC Prosecutor Opens Investigation on REITs
By Mike Colpitts A former Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) prosecutor is launching an aggressive investigation into Real Estate Investment Trusts to recoup millions of dollars in losses for investors, who say they have been misled by investment brokers. Fort Lauderdale attorney David R. Chase has launched inquiries on behalf of investors in REITs throughout… Continue reading Former SEC Prosecutor Opens Investigation on REITs
Homeowner Foreclosure Scams Spike
By Mike Colpitts Homeowner foreclosure rescue scams surged nearly 60% in the first three months of the year following the introduction of new federal foreclosure prevention programs, according to a national non- profit group working to help homeowners at risk of losing their homes. The Homeownership Preservation Foundation says fraudsters are busier than ever in… Continue reading Homeowner Foreclosure Scams Spike
$25 Billion Bank Monitor Hires Accountants
By Ryan Jackson The monitor appointed to oversee the banks $25 billion settlement with 49 state attorney generals in the robo-signing scandal has hired six accounting firms to help monitor the agreement. Forty-nine states reached an agreement with the nation’s five largest banks in February over the forged signings of millions of foreclosure documents involved… Continue reading $25 Billion Bank Monitor Hires Accountants
Court Orders $4 Million Mortgage Scam Fine
By Ryan Jackson A federal judge has ordered the ring-leader of a group and six defendants accused of defrauding homeowners to pay nearly $4-million for running a mortgage modification scam that promised to provide homeowners at risk of losing their homes foreclosure relief. The order was issued in U.S. District Court in the Central District… Continue reading Court Orders $4 Million Mortgage Scam Fine
Bank CEO Admits to Robo-Signing Scandal
By Mike Colpitts Rising pressure on banks and mortgage firms are forcing lenders to merge, go out of business and make massive cuts to trim their bottom lines. The U.S. foreclosure crisis is making an ugly display of many banks balance sheets, and at least one major bank CEO is admitting to errors made during… Continue reading Bank CEO Admits to Robo-Signing Scandal
Former Bank CFO Pleads Guilty to Fraud
By Mike Colpitts The former chief financial officer of one of the U.S. largest mortgage banking operations has plead guilty to committing bank fraud and lying to federal investigators in a $2.9 billion scheme that drove Taylor, Bean & Whitaker and Colonial Bank out of business. Delton de Armas may receive up to 10 years… Continue reading Former Bank CFO Pleads Guilty to Fraud
Attorney General Appoints Monitor in Bank Settlement
By Mike Colpitts In an effort to protect consumers from additional fraudulent behavior by banks, the California attorney general has appointed an independent monitor to oversee the nation’s five largest banks performance in $18 billion worth of benefits that will be split up between homeowners. Attorney General Kamala Harris announced the appointment of University of… Continue reading Attorney General Appoints Monitor in Bank Settlement