Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Mortgage Broker top performer now faces jail over massive home loan fraud

A few short months ago a New Zealand mortgage broker was hailed as her company's top performer in a low mortgage location, now the 43 year old mother faces 10 years behind bars after being convicted of fraud. 
The mortgage broker pleaded guilty in a Wellington District Court to using scissors and a photocopying machine to create false documents to write more than NZ$15 million in phoney mortgages.
Some unsuspecting clients have lost their homes and others are struggling to continue to make their mortgage payments.
The woman's branch office starred as the best performing in the company, supported by the fake mortgages, between September 2006 and July 2008 - and it was this that lead to her undoing.
Never meet your heroes
The parent company began an audit into her loan applications because her branch's outstanding performance was at odds with its geographical location.
Most of the loans obtained through the woman's actions are being repaid.
She has been remanded on bail until 27 January for sentencing.