The report found that, for the first time, Rhode Island ranked first in the country for mortgage fraud with more than three times the expected amount of reported mortgage fraud for its origination volume. This is also Rhode Island's first appearance on the MARI report Top-Ten list, indicating a problematic and overlooked mortgage fraud problem in the state. Florida, ranked first in 2007 and 2006, dropped to second place and is followed by Illinois, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Michigan, California, Missouri and Colorado.
"With fewer loan originations today, the data suggests that the economic downturn may have created more desperation, causing more people than ever before to try to commit mortgage fraud," said Denise James, LexisNexis Risk & Information Analytics Group director of Residential Mortgage Solutions. "Not only are we seeing traditional fraud trends, such as application fraud, but we are also seeing new types of emerging fraud occur," said James. "It is therefore imperative that the mortgage industry continue to share information and insights, and collaborate in the fight against mortgage fraud."
The top fraud incident type in 2008 – representing 61% of all reported frauds – was application fraud, the fifth year in a row it topped the list. Second were frauds related to tax returns and financial statements which jumped 60% from 17% of reported frauds in 2007, to 28% of reported frauds in 2008. Additional documented fraud types included, in order of volume, frauds related to appraisals or valuations, verifications of deposit, verifications of employment, escrow or closing costs, and credit reports.
"MARI data shows that mortgage fraud is more prevalent today than it was at the height of the boom in mortgage loan originations," said John Courson, president and chief executive officer of the Mortgage Bankers Association. "This report is essential reading for mortgage bankers who need to understand where mortgage fraud is coming from, what to watch for and how to protect our companies and communities."
The report also found that:
- After improving in 2006 and 2007, Georgia jumped from seventh to fourth place in 2008;
- California, ranked fourth in 2007, declined to eighth in 2008;
- Maryland jumped from fifteenth in 2007 to fifth in 2008; and
- The volume of reported frauds related to credit reports dropped from 9% to 4% between 2007 and 2008.
