Mortgage Fraud Investigator

Cornerstone Home Lending•Houston, TX

28d•$75,000 - $92,000•Remote

About The Position

The Mortgage Fraud Investigator is responsible for detecting, investigating, and preventing fraudulent activities related to mortgage lending. This includes examining loan applications, reviewing financial documentation, conducting interviews, collaborating with law enforcement, and preparing investigative reports. Preferred locations - Denver or Houston metro areas, position is remote, but must be able to travel to the office on occasion.

Requirements

Extensive mortgage origination investigations experience is a must, preference for 5+ years
Solid understanding of mortgage underwriting and GSE selling guide requirements, preference of 5+ years.
Strong analytical skills to identify complex fraud patterns, review financials, and assess mortgage documents.
Attention to detail is essential for detecting subtle discrepancies in applications and documents.
Ability to conduct interviews and draft clear, impactful investigative reports.
Ability to follow instructions and attention to detail is essential for detecting subtle discrepancies in applications and documents.
Experience using mortgage processing software and fraud detection tools, plus public records databases.
Strong understanding of mortgage lending laws and regulations.
Proven ability to prioritize and manage a pipeline of work with accuracy and timeliness.
Ability to problem-solve and research to uncover hidden fraud and develop countermeasures.
Ability to maintain high integrity and confidentiality due to handling sensitive financial information.
Exceptional organization and time management a must
Ability to work through stressful situations professionally and respectfully

Nice To Haves

A bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, finance, accounting, or related fields is often preferred.
Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE)
Additional relevant certifications include: Certified Mortgage Fraud Investigator (CMFI), forensic accounting or investigative credentials.

Responsibilities

Conduct interviews with borrowers, lenders, appraisers, and other parties involved to validate facts and gather additional information.
Develop and implement internal controls and fraud prevention measures.
Educate colleagues and stakeholders on best practices.
Monitor emerging trends in mortgage fraud and adapt investigative strategies accordingly.
Collaborate with law enforcement or regulatory agencies when criminal activity is suspected.
Prepare comprehensive investigative reports with findings, recommendations, and possibly statistical analysis.
Investigate fraud across origination, underwriting, processing, servicing of loans, and REO (Real Estate Owned) properties.
Resolve discrepancies between allegations and facts, reassess investigative leads and direction.
Research using public records, credit reporting agencies, social media, and other databases.
Perform comprehensive searches on potential matches in the Excluded Parties Lists (SAM, LDP, FHFA, SCP and OFAC) for parties related to the mortgage transaction.
Daily communication with the mortgage division to resolve red flags, place conditions in the loan origination system (LOS), and escalate potential fraud issues.
Track investigations; complete investigation write-ups; file and report required Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs); deliver SAR reporting to the business and regulators.
Conduct complete loan analyses for mortgage investigations, including correct income calculations, rental income assessments, debt-to-income (DTI) ratio computations, and re-verification of income and assets.
Review files to identify red flags and utilize tools to investigate business ownership, occupancy, tax returns, paystubs, bank statements, and identity fraud indicators.
Recommends loss mitigation actions
Maintains quality control and production standards
Manage case management/ticket queues
Continuously improve knowledge base and skillset
Perform other job-duty-related duties as assigned