LIFESTYLE
Where Mortgage Application Fraud is on the Rise
Published: Wednesday, January 30th 2013
Whenever something is doing well, there will undoubtedly be people looking to take advantage. As the housing market turns a corner and starts to pick up speed, mortgage application fraud has also increased, which could spook lenders into tightening up.
A new report revealed that mortgage fraud went up by 1.1% from the second quarter to the third quarter in 2012. True, 1.1% might not sound like much, but in some metropolitan areas, mortgage fraud was up by more than 15%, according to Kroll Factual Data, provider of risk mitigation and verification services to mortgage lenders, banks and credit unions. In fact, one unfortunate area reported fraud increased by 50% quarter to quarter.
“While fraud alerts declined in some [metropolitan statistical areas], these declines were offset by significant increases in others,” Rod Bazzani, president of Kroll Factual Data, said in a statement. “This spike in potential fraud is troubling, coming at the same time the mortgage industry is beginning to turn the corner.”
The federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued new regulations on Jan. 17, 2013, requiring that lenders verify a borrower’s financial records, and therefore, his or her ability to actually repay the mortgage.
“In addition, the new CFPB restrictions — whose ultimate goal is to ensure a borrower can repay a mortgage over its entire term — raise the stakes for lenders to catch fraud or inadvertent errors that might compromise lending decisions or risk buy-back requests,” Bazzani said.
Some cities did see large declines in potential for fraud, but the 19.55% decrease in Champaign-Urbana, Ill., and the 18.59% drop in Bridgeport-Milford, Conn., simply weren’t enough to offset the huge increases.
Kroll examined mortgage applications in the country’s metropolitan statistical areas and identified the 10 areas with the largest quarter over quarter increase of potential fraud.
10. Appleton-Oshkosh-Neenah, Wis.
Quarter over quarter increase: 17.10%
9. Providence-Fall River-Warwick, R.I.-Mass.
Quarter over quarter increase: 18.04%
8. Fort Worth, Texas
Quarter over quarter increase: 20.41%
7. Omaha, Neb.-Iowa
Quarter over quarter increase: 22.43%
6. Des Moines, Iowa
Quarter over quarter increase: 23.95%
5. Santa Fe, N.M.
Quarter over quarter increase: 24.24%
4. Tacoma, Wash.
Quarter over quarter increase: 25.68%
3. Lancaster, Pa.
Quarter over quarter increase: 28.83%
2. Columbia, Mo.
Quarter over quarter increase: 29.77%
1. Flint, Mich.
Quarter over quarter increase: 50.32%
Comment(s)
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Elle
January 31st, 2013 - 03:21:10 PM
Your report was thoroughly meaningless. What should the consumer be looking out for with respect to fraud. Whatever happened to competent, informative and meaningful reporting?
Kalico
January 31st, 2013 - 10:31:16 PM
Your report is not detailed enough as to give the consumer a clear picture of the type of fraud in the mortgage industry. Your report begs for more information. Your report is needed but please elaborate on the subject matter.
