Consumer alerts and press releases

Receive e-mail updates when information on this page changes

Recent releases:

	Bend event to help homeowners prevent foreclosures - 03/3/10
	Tax refund loans can be high cost, unnecessary Oregonians can get fast refunds and save money by e-filing - 02/17/10

---

All releases:

• Banks & trusts
• Collection agencies
• Consumer finance
• Credit services organizations
• Credit unions
• General (not related to a specific program area)
• Investor information program
• Mortgage lending
• Prearranged funeral plans (preneed certified providers), endowment care, & master trustees
• Securities enforcement
• Securities registration

---

Banks & trusts

	Columbia River Bank closed, acquired by Columbia State Bank Customers can expect business as usual - 01/22/10
	Community First Bank closed, acquired by Home Federal Bank Customers can expect business as usual - 08/7/09
	Silver Falls Bank closed, Citizens Bank to acquire deposits Customers can expect business as usual - 02/20/09
	Pinnacle Bank closed, acquired by Washington Trust Bank Customers can expect business as usual - 02/13/09
	Community banks increase deposits, remain a safe place for your money - 11/26/08
	State warns consumers about lending scam Applicants must pay up-front loan fee - 10/13/08
	Oregon banks remain strong - 07/28/08
	Oregon financial regulator receives national reaccreditation - 11/26/07

---

Collection agencies

	Beaverton Woman Sentenced to 57 months Prison for Ponzi Scheme - 09/21/09
	State orders Salem-area collection agency to cease and desist Action follows complaints filed against Hawkeye Financial Group, Inc. - 10/17/08
	State revokes registration of Gresham collection agency Action follows complaints filed against All Debt Recovery, LLC - 08/15/08

---

Consumer finance

	Tax refund loans can be high cost, unnecessary Oregonians can get fast refunds and save money by e-filing - 02/17/10
	State warns consumers about lending scam Applicants must pay up-front loan fee - 10/13/08
	State issues order against consumer finance lender for exposing clients to identity theft. Noble Finance must cease and desist, reimburse investigative costs. - 05/27/08

---

Credit unions

No recent alerts or press releases at this time. For past bulletins, click here.

---

General consumer alerts and news releases not related to a specific program area

	Tax refund loans can be high cost, unnecessary Oregonians can get fast refunds and save money by e-filing - 02/17/10
	State agency to host seminars on preventing fraud Events throughout Oregon will help consumers avoid money-taking schemes - 02/1/10
	Thirteen Defendents Charged in $19 Million Bank Fraud - 11/20/09
	Oregon issues order against insurance agent for dumping records Documents contained clients' personal information - 10/22/09
	State warns consumers about lending scam Applicants must pay up-front loan fee - 10/13/08

---

Investor information

	State agency to host seminars on preventing fraud Events throughout Oregon will help consumers avoid money-taking schemes - 02/1/10
	Portland Events to Provide Guidance in Retirement Investing and Recognizing Scams - 04/15/08
	State identifies most common investment scams - 05/17/07

---

Mortgage lenders

	Bend event to help homeowners prevent foreclosures - 03/3/10
	State sanctions promoter of "foreclosure rescue" scheme Tony Schwartz promised to help distressed homeowners, then illegally sold interests in homes - 02/2/10
	Thirteen Defendents Charged in $19 Million Bank Fraud - 11/20/09
	State revokes mortgage broker license Case involves mortgage fraud and unethical behavior - 10/13/09
	Medford event to help homeowners prevent foreclosure Nonprofit counselors will be available for one-on-one meetings - 10/13/09
	Oregon homeowners facing foreclosure have new rights Lenders required to meet with borrowers about loan modifications - 09/28/09
	State Issues Orders against Mortgage Brokers, Loan Originators One broker is permanently barred from any financially related business in Oregon - 07/7/09
	State Revokes Licenses of Two Mortgage Companies - 06/3/09
	State bans Portland-area mortgage loan originator - 04/23/09
	Homeowners Should Be Wary of Loan Modification Offers - 03/4/09
	State issues fines, order in mortgage fraud case - 02/26/09
	State issues fines, enforcement orders in two mortgage lending cases Former managers ordered to pay fines and a mortgage company receives conditional license - 12/29/08
	State denies license, orders mortgage broker to cease and desist Firm ordered to pay $70,000 in fines for violations of Oregon Mortgage Lender Law - 10/20/08
	State warns consumers about lending scam Applicants must pay up-front loan fee - 10/13/08
	State takes enforcement action against four mortgage brokers Cases involve unethical behavior, falsified loan documents, training requirements - 08/13/08
	Oregon receives grant money for foreclosure counseling and assistance - 03/17/08
	State issues fines, enforcement orders in 4 mortgage lending cases - 08/16/07
	Department offers advice to help consumer avoid foreclosure - 08/9/07
	AG Myers and DCBS remind Oregonians of restitution eligibility in $325 million Ameriquest settlement - 07/12/07
	State orders $46,000 in fines against promoters of illegal mortgage rescue scheme - 06/20/07
	State issues fines, enforcement orders in 2 mortgage lending cases - 06/7/07
	State orders two mortgage providers to stop illegal activity - 04/17/07
	State to strengthen regulation of mortgage lenders - 01/18/07
	Mortgage Lending Requirements Strengthened - 01/17/07

---

Prearranged funeral plans (preneed certified providers), endowment care, & master trustees

Department completes Twin Oaks investigation Former owners must pay $540,000 - 07/9/09

---

Securities enforcement

	State sanctions promoter of "foreclosure rescue" scheme Tony Schwartz promised to help distressed homeowners, then illegally sold interests in homes - 02/2/10
	State agency to host seminars on preventing fraud Events throughout Oregon will help consumers avoid money-taking schemes - 02/1/10
	State bars Sunwest Management owner from financial industry Jon Harder violated numerous securities laws in investment schemes - 01/25/10
	State proposes to revoke investment adviser license Order alleges breach of fiduciary duties - 12/23/09
	Thirteen Defendents Charged in $19 Million Bank Fraud - 11/20/09
	State sanctions promoters of fraudulent time-share investment program Oregonians lose more than $5 million in scheme - 10/8/09
	Oregon settles with national brokers over auction-rate securities More than $1.4 million in fines will go to the General Fund - 08/31/09
	State finalizes Agreement with Prosper Marketplace Over Sales of Unregistered Securities - 06/25/09
	State stops 'boiler room' operation Sales staff pushed high-risk investments - 03/18/09
	State orders unlicensed California broker-dealer to cease and desist - 12/29/08
	State securities regulators settle with Prosper Marketplace over unregistered securities - 12/5/08
	Two Former Business Partners Convicted on Fraud Charges Convictions based on long-running Ponzi scheme - 09/25/08
	State issues cease-and-desist orders for unregistered securities - 09/22/08
	State investigating sales of auction-rate securities - 04/24/08
	Michael K. Frazier of Frazier Financial Services arrested for theft, fraud, and sale of unregistered securities - 03/4/08
	State orders Springfield company to cease and desist - 01/8/08
	State orders $46,000 in fines against promoters of illegal mortgage rescue scheme - 06/20/07
	SEC, State of Oregon permanently put investment adviser out of business - 06/5/07
	State identifies most common investment scams - 05/17/07
	State warns consumers about sweepstakes scam - 05/15/07
	Regulators Join Forces to Warn Public of Foreign Currency Trading Frauds - 05/7/07
	State revokes La Grande stockbroker's license - Stockbroker invested senior citizens' money in risky, unsuitable oil and gas partnerships - 04/25/07
	State orders company to stop selling securities in Oregon - 03/12/07
	State orders former Portland-area stockbroker to pay restitution to investors - 01/23/07

---

Securities registration

Securities Fee Change - 02/27/08