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Document Dump: 40 Boxes of Ameriquest Mortgage Records Found in Dumpster

October 19, 2007 9:26 AM

Documentdump4_mn Police are investigating how the personal files of 1,200 Ameriquest Mortgage customers turned up in a dumpster at an Atlanta apartment complex. Police say the 40 boxes of records contain sensitive financial information, including customers' credit histories, bank account information, tax and salary records and social security numbers.

Management of the Montego Apartments complex immediately alerted police after the abandoned boxes were discovered last month. 

Deputy Chief Mike Burrows of the DeKalb County Police Department told the Blotter on ABCNews.com that the documents would have been a treasure trove to identity theft criminals. 

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According to Burrows, "If anyone finds it, they can delve into the files and assume people's identity and obviously open credit accounts and obtain loans on vehicles, mortgages -- the general financial identity fraud situation that the whole country's facing."

The police are now trying to get to the bottom of how the files ended up in the dumpster. 

According to Burrows, the three Ameriquest offices in the Atlanta area closed in 2005, and none were in the immediate vicinity of the apartment complex.   

Police say the case files involved mortgage customers from a number of different states, including Georgia, Florida and Mississippi. Authorities plan to alert customers identified from the documents so that they can check their records to confirm they were not fraud victims.

An Ameriquest representative has reviewed some of the documents, and spokesman Chris Orlando says the company believes they were stolen from Ameriquest in late 2002. 

According to Orlando, "We take the security of our records very seriously...and have been working to locate the person or persons responsible for the theft. We are pleased that the files have now been secured by authorities in DeKalb County, and we are working with local law enforcement to determine what information is contained in the files and who stole them."

Deputy Chief Burrows says so far his department has uncovered no evidence that the files were stolen from Ameriquest.

As previously reported on ABC News, Ameriquest is facing a class-action lawsuit alleging the company misled and defrauded borrowers. Without admitting wrongdoing, the company agreed in 2006 to pay $325 million to settle a similar case brought by 49 state attorneys general.

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October 19, 2007 | Permalink | User Comments (24)

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Ameriquest couldn't afford a shredder.

Posted by: wordvarc | Oct 19, 2007 10:36:05 AM

holy crap!!!1

Posted by: brian | Oct 19, 2007 10:42:12 AM

Do you need Sherlock Holmes to guess that the IDENTITY theives already have used them???? Don't ask, don't tell...

Posted by: daddy | Oct 19, 2007 11:15:04 AM

They were stolen in 2002?

Did Ameriquest mention this in 2002?

And they all turned up 5 years later, 40 boxes, all together in one place?

Yeah, right.

Posted by: Iggy | Oct 19, 2007 2:52:00 PM

This issue should be investigated. These files could be hidden due to prior investigation. After 5 years, all relationship between the company and certain individuals, who help to hid these files, could be changed....

Posted by: JD | Oct 19, 2007 5:40:21 PM

Soo the DeKalb police have custody of the records, are they checking the loan records for loan fraud?

I beleive Ameriquest is notorious for making abusive loans to illegal immigrants, this would be an excellent opportunity for the authroities to review the loan records for loan fraud-a felony & federal crime.

Posted by: Smitty | Oct 19, 2007 6:51:17 PM

This is unbelievable. I hope the responsible people are found and brought up on charges. So many people were put at risk.

Posted by: Cassy | Oct 20, 2007 2:05:51 PM

Does it matter Bush already gave the head guy a position in his cabinet as an ambassador to the Netherlands. He get to keep his riches while the customers are losing there homes left and right.

Savings and Loan now Ameriquest...hmmm sounds to coincidental

Posted by: Ren | Oct 20, 2007 11:56:02 PM

Seems like another Bush crony (Founder of Ameriquest and now Ambassador to Netherland) is the guilty party. I'll question him first.

Posted by: marc | Oct 21, 2007 5:48:04 AM

A former friend of mine worked as a mortgage broker with Ameriquest. I didn't realize how devious and calculating she was until she attempted to push a low-document mortgage on me that stank of subprime when I qualified for much better terms per my realtor.

I fired the gal and took my mortgage to a more reputable firm and saved myself a lot of heartache in the process. I will gladly share her name with ABC News if there is any interest.

Also, if the documents were stolen in 2002 as the company has claimed, were any of the customers notified in writing to monitor their credit for possible fraudulent activity?

Posted by: Renee in Texas | Oct 21, 2007 5:24:50 PM

Ameriquest used bogus appraisals to inflate the value of homes in order to get a sub-prime loan closed. Clear case of real estate fraud.

Posted by: Phil | Oct 22, 2007 2:56:34 PM

Oh Gee. Another Republican connected company under investigation throws away key documents.

Why do I get a feeling of deja vu?

Posted by: bobby stickers | Oct 22, 2007 4:21:24 PM

Deputy Chief Burrows says so far his department has uncovered no evidence that the files were stolen from Ameriquest.

Hmmm, not stolen? Misplaced maybe?

Can you say "Somethin' Smells"?

Look at the small things... The details... The inconsistencies...

Learn, and you will find the truth (it just takes more time then most are willing to invest in.

Posted by: Watcher | Oct 22, 2007 4:53:09 PM

incredible! Especially since I recieved a letter from Ameriquest saying that their was a hack into their computer systems but no one's personal data was stolen!!

Posted by: cuah01 | Oct 22, 2007 7:10:35 PM

It makes you wonder if there were only 40 boxes originally placed there or were there more!!!

Posted by: Webstirer | Oct 23, 2007 6:52:39 AM

I used to use them, got out last year. Wonder if I am a victim. No! they did not contact me. But they sure contacted me about the lawsuit settlement before this aired on national television

Posted by: Imone | Oct 23, 2007 5:02:14 PM

you are all ridiculous.... what do any of you know about the company or the industry?? and I might add have way too much time on your hands....

You might not realize this but the problems exist not just with Ameriquest but EVERY mortgage company, even problably yours, why do you think so many companies are out of business now?

Goodbye

Posted by: D | Oct 24, 2007 12:25:08 PM

This is just like the eighties all over again...when Reagan's Savings and Loan scandal nearly brought down the US economy and made Bush Jr's brother Neil a gazillionaire. Now, under Bush Jr we have Enron and Ameriquest...run by two of Bush Jr's biggest financial supporters. Just your usual Republican filth and corruption...all on the backs of the American working people. Nothing new here.

Posted by: wilder5121 | Oct 24, 2007 12:44:15 PM

[QUOTE]
"Imone
you are all ridiculous.... what do any of you know about the company or the industry?? and I might add have way too much time on your hands....

You might not realize this but the problems exist not just with Ameriquest but EVERY mortgage company, even problably yours, why do you think so many companies are out of business now?

Goodbye"
[QUOTE]

Oh my. Thanks for clearing that up.

I was beginning to wonder who was going to be the one to remind us that this a worst problem than it looks like.

You get 3 Dewey buttons.

Now, can you cook us some stew? Preferably Duck.

Posted by: ToungTyed | Oct 24, 2007 3:38:28 PM

Ameriquest has been our nightmare since 2004.

Posted by: | Oct 25, 2007 7:54:11 PM

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