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MORTGAGE FRAUD REPORT 2006

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MORTGAGE FRAUD REPORT 2006



Mortgage Fraud Report 2006

May 2007


This house was used in a Mortgage Fraud Scheme

Key Findings

Top Areas for Mortgage Fraud

 * Analysis of available law enforcement and industry resources indicates that
   the top ten mortgage fraud areas are California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
   Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Utah. Other areas significantly
   affected by mortgage fraud include Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota,
   Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia.
 * There is a strong correlation between mortgage fraud and loans which result
   in default and foreclosure.

Emerging Schemes

 * Recent statistics suggest that escalating foreclosures provide criminals with
   the opportunity to exploit and defraud vulnerable homeowners seeking
   financial guidance.
 * Perpetrators are exploiting the home equity line of credit (HELOC)
   application process to conduct mortgage fraud, check fraud, and potentially
   money laundering-related activity.

FBI and Industry Respond to Escalating Mortgage Fraud

 * The FBI is proactively working with the mortgage industry in an effort to
   curb mortgage fraud crimes. The FBI signed a memorandum of agreement with the
   MBA to promote the FBI’s Mortgage Fraud Warning Notice.

Introduction

The Prieston Group, a risk management solutions provider that administers an
insurance product covering losses due to fraud and misrepresentation, calculated
that losses attributed to mortgage fraud will most likely reach $4.2 billion for
2006. This figure does not take into account another estimated $1.2 billion
spent on fraud prevention tools. - The Prieston Group, 2006 Data, 16 February
2007,and 2 April 2007.

Mortgage Fraud is defined as the intentional misstatement, misrepresentation, or
omission by an applicant or other interested parties, relied on by a lender or
underwriter to provide funding for, to purchase, or to insure a mortgage loan.
Although no central repository collects all mortgage fraud complaints,
statistics from multiple sources indicate that mortgage fraud is on the rise.
Some industry explanations for this increase point to recent high mortgage loan
origination volumes that strained quality control efforts, the persistent desire
of mortgage lenders to hasten the mortgage loan process, the escalation of home
prices in recent years, and the introduction of non-traditional loans which
contain fewer quality control restraints such as low documentation and no
documentation loans1.

Mortgage loan fraud is divided into two categories: fraud for property and fraud
for profit. Fraud for property/housing entails minor misrepresentations by the
applicant solely for the purpose of purchasing a property for a primary
residence. This scheme usually involves a single loan. Although applicants may
embellish income and conceal debt, their intent is to repay the loan. Fraud for
profit, however, often involves multiple loans and elaborate schemes perpetrated
to gain illicit proceeds from property sales. It is this second category that is
of most concern to law enforcement and the mortgage industry. Gross
misrepresentations concerning appraisals and loan documents are common in fraud
for profit schemes and participants are frequently paid for their participation.
Recent events likely resulted in an increase in mortgage fraud as higher housing
prices tempted borrowers to commit fraud for property in order to qualify for a
mortgage loan. Also, mortgage fraud perpetrators likely seized the opportunity
to take advantage of the relaxed lending practices to commit fraud for profit.

The most common form of mortgage fraud is illegal property flipping which
entails false appraisals and other fraudulent loan documents (see figure 1).
Combating mortgage fraud effectively requires the cooperation of law enforcement
and industry entities. No single regulatory agency is charged with monitoring
this crime. The FBI, Department of Housing and Urban Development-Office of
Inspector General (HUD-OIG), Internal Revenue Service, Postal Inspection
Service, and state and local agencies are among those investigating mortgage
fraud.

Figure 1: Illegal Property Flipping Scheme


Mortgage fraud is a relatively low-risk, high-yield criminal activity that
tempts many. However, according a May 2006 Financial Crimes Enforcement Network
(FinCEN) report, finance-related occupations, including accountants, mortgage
brokers, and lenders, were the most common suspect occupations associated with
reported mortgage fraud2. Perpetrators in these occupations are familiar with
the mortgage loan process and therefore know how to exploit vulnerabilities in
the system.

Victims of mortgage fraud may include borrowers, mortgage industry entities, and
those living in the neighborhoods affected by mortgage fraud. Lenders are
plagued with high foreclosure costs, broker commissions, reappraisals, attorney
fees, rehabilitation costs, and other related expenses when a mortgage fraud is
committed3. As properties affected by mortgage fraud are sold at artificially
inflated prices, properties in surrounding neighborhoods also become
artificially inflated. When property values increase, property taxes increase as
well. Legitimate homeowners also find it difficult to sell their homes as
surrounding properties affected by fraud deteriorate.

During boom periods, high mortgage loan volume impacts expedited quality control
efforts which often focus on production. Therefore, perpetrators may submit
loans based on fraudulent information anticipating that the bogus information
will be overlooked. On the other hand, loan officers, brokers, and others in the
industry are paid by commission and may be tempted to approve questionable loans
when the housing market is down to maintain current levels of income.



Analysis of mortgage originations indicates a decrease in demand. As a result of
the declining housing market, mortgage fraud perpetrators may take advantage of
eager loan originators attempting to generate loans for commission. Mortgage
loan originations, including purchases and refinances declined during 2006
across the United States. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) estimates that
mortgage loan originations will reach $2.28 trillion during 2007 (see figure
2)4. According to an MBA December 2006 report, total home sales during 2006
decreased by approximately 10 percent from 2005 sales. New home sales declined
by 17 percent and existing home sales dipped by 8 percent. In response to a
decrease in demand for housing, builders reduced single-family starts (through
November 2006) which were 14 percent lower than during the same time period in
2005. The MBA estimates that the oversupply of housing will continue to affect
new home construction, home sales, and home prices until mid-20075.

Top Areas for Mortgage Fraud

Data was compiled and analyzed from law enforcement and industry sources to
determine those areas of the country most affected by mortgage fraud during
2006. Information from the FBI, HUD-OIG, FinCEN, Mortgage Asset Research
Institute (MARI), Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), RealtyTrac
Inc. (foreclosure statistics), and Radian Guaranty Inc., indicate that the top
ten mortgage fraud areas for 2006 were California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Michigan, New York, Ohio, Texas, and Utah. Other areas significantly
affected by mortgage fraud include Arizona, Colorado, Maryland, Minnesota,
Missouri, Nevada, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia (see figure 3).




Analysis of available information indicates that mortgage fraud is most
concentrated in the north central region of the United States. The north central
region is followed by the southeast and west regions.

Regional analysis of FBI pending mortgage fraud-related investigations as of FY
2006 reveals that the north central region of the United States led the nation
with the most pending investigations. The north central region was followed by
the southeast, west, south central, and northeast, respectively (see figure 4).



The aggregate amount of ARM loans containing fraudulent misrepresentations is
unknown. However, since mortgage fraud perpetrators hope to inflate the value of
their properties and quickly sell them, they would likely gravitate towards
mortgage loans that offered low and short-term interest rates such as those
offered by ARMs.

Delinquency, Default, and Foreclosure: Potential Fraud Indicators

Mortgage loans based on fraudulent information usually result in delinquency,
default, or foreclosure in a bear market. According to the MBA, both delinquency
and foreclosures rates increased during 2006 and were largely concentrated in
adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) loans, especially sub-prime ARMs. This is partly
attributable to the recent rise in interest rates, placing a strain on ARMs
borrowers6.

BasePoint Analytics, a fraud analytics company, analyzed more than 3 million
loans and found that between 30 and 70 percent of early payment defaults (EPDs)
are linked to significant misrepresentations in the original loan applications7.
Radian Guaranty, Inc. is a leading provider of mortgage insurance which protects
lenders against loan default. Of the top ten states Radian Guaranty Inc. ranked
highest for mortgage fraud, seven of them also ranked in the company’s top ten
for EPDs. This suggests that EPDs are a good mortgage fraud indicator.

During 2006 there were more than 1.2 million foreclosure filings nationally,
which represents a 42 percent increase from 2005 figures. The foreclosure rate
for 2006 was one foreclosure filing for every 92 households8. Foreclosures for
2006 surpassed foreclosures for 2005 during every month of the year9.

Emerging Schemes

Foreclosure Fraud

Recent statistics suggest that escalating foreclosures provide criminals with
the opportunity to exploit and defraud vulnerable homeowners seeking financial
guidance. The perpetrators convince homeowners that they can save their homes
from foreclosure through deed transfers and the payment of up-front fees. This
“foreclosure rescue” often involves a manipulated deed process that results in
the preparation of forged deeds. In extreme instances, perpetrators may sell the
home or secure a second loan without the homeowners’ knowledge, stripping the
property’s equity for personal enrichment.

While foreclosure scams vary, they may be used in combination with other
fraudulent schemes. For instance, perpetrators may view foreclosure-rescue scams
as a new method for fraudulently acquiring properties to facilitate illegal
property-flipping and equity-skimming.

Home Equity Lines of Credit

According to a DOJ press release, Mi Su Yi and her husband, Paul Amorello, were
sentenced in California in July 2006 for operating a $3 million bust-out scheme
involving business lines of credit and HELOCs. The couple accessed lines of
credit that had been obtained by others and paid the balances with worthless
checks. They subsequently withdrew cash from the lines of credit before the
checks were returned for insufficient funds. The couple laundered their proceeds
through bank accounts opened under three false identities. In an attempt to
avoid detection, the couple deposited cash amounts of less than $10,000 into
these accounts. -US DOJ, “New Jersey Residents Sentenced to Prison for Running a
$3 Million ‘Bust-Out’ Scheme,” Press Release, 25 July 2006, available at
http://www.usdoj.gov

Individuals and criminal groups are exploiting the home equity line of credit
(HELOC) application process to conduct multiple-funding mortgage fraud schemes,
check fraud schemes, and potentially money laundering-related activity. HELOCs
differ from standard home equity loans because the homeowner may borrow against
the line of credit over a period of time using a checkbook or credit card.
HELOCs are aggressively marketed by lenders as an easy, fast, and inexpensive
means to obtain funds. HELOC funds are normally withdrawn on an as-needed basis
to conduct home repairs or to pay bills, but fraud perpetrators may withdraw the
entire amount within a short time period. Lenders typically focus on property
equity prior to funding HELOCs. As such, many lenders do not demand a full
property appraisal or a full property title search.

Perpetrators apply for multiple HELOCs to different lending institutions for a
single property within a short time period. Prior to providing the funding,
lenders conduct searches to determine if the property is encumbered by a lien.
However, liens on a property may not be recorded for several days or months and
thus cannot be immediately verified. Consequently, lenders do not discover that
they hold a third, fourth, or fifth lien on a property (rather than the expected
second lien) until later. The money obtained from the multiple HELOCs totals
more than the original property purchase price, exceeding the out-of-pocket
expenses incurred to secure the property.

Perpetrators conducting check fraud schemes may manipulate HELOC accounts and
cause lenders to incur losses. For example, a perpetrator secures a HELOC and
withdraws the entire allotted amount. A fraudulent check is then used to pay the
balance owed on the HELOC. However, the perpetrator quickly withdraws the check
amount from the HELOC before the bank realizes the check is worthless. When the
check is returned for insufficient funds, the line of credit surpasses its
maximum limit and the lender experiences a loss. HELOC accounts have also been
used in common check frauds where perpetrators stole HELOC checks, fraudulently
completed them, and deposited the funds into their own personal accounts.

HELOCs may also be used as a means of depositing and withdrawing laundered
proceeds to further conceal the original funding source. As long as withdrawals
from the HELOC do not exceed the line of credit limit, payments deposited into
the account may be withdrawn later.

FBI and Industry Respond to Escalating Mortgage Fraud

The FBI is proactively working with the mortgage industry in an effort to curb
mortgage fraud crimes. On March 8, 2007, the FBI signed a memorandum of
agreement with the MBA to promote the FBI’s Mortgage Fraud Warning Notice (see
figure 5). The Notice states that it is illegal to make any false statement
regarding income, assets, debt or matters of identification, or to willfully
inflate property value to influence the action of a financial institution. Under
the agreement, the MBA and the FBI will make the notice available to mortgage
lenders to use voluntarily as a means of educating consumers and mortgage
professionals of the penalties and consequences of mortgage fraud.10



1Mortgage Asset Research Institute, “Eighth Periodic Mortgage Fraud Case Report
to MBA,” p. 3, 11, 12, April 2006.
2FinCEN, “The SAR Activity Review Trends, Tips and Issues,” p. 15, May 2006,
available at http://www.fincen.gov/sarreviewissue10.pdf
3Bits Financial Round Table, “Fraud Production Strategies for Consumer,
Commercial, and Mortgage Loan Documents,” A Publication of the Bits Fraud
Reductions Steering Committee, p. 7, January 2005.
4Mortgage Bankers Association Mortgage Finance Forecast, 13 March 2007, 8
November 2006, 7 December 2005, and MBA 1-4 Family Mortgage Originations
1990-2005.
5Mortgage Bankers Association, “Year in Review: Normalization of the Housing
Market,” 29 December 2006.
6Mortgage Bankers Association, “Year in Review, Normalization of the Housing
Market, 29 December 2006.
7BasePoint White Paper, “New Early Payment Default-Links to Fraud and Impact on
Mortgage Lenders and Investment Banks,” p. 2, 2007.
8RealtyTrac Staff, “More Than 1.2 Million Foreclosures Reported in 2006,”
RealtyTrac Inc. Press Release, 25 January 2007
9RealtyTrac Incorporated, 2005 and 2006 Percent of Households in Foreclosure,
data provided 17 January 2007.
10Mortgage Bankers Association, “MBA Signs Memorandum of Agreement with FBI to
Promote Use of FBI’s Mortgage Fraud Warning Notice,” Press Release, 8 March
2007.

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