Red Flags on Paystubs and Undisclosed Self-Employment Can Point To Fraud - b-Logics® (2024)

Mortgage Loan Quality

Elliot Salzman / July 10, 2018

Red Flags on Paystubs and Undisclosed Self-Employment Can Point To Fraud - b-Logics® (1)

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The presence of one or more red flags is not necessarily indicative of fraudulent intent, but it does point out the need for additional review.

Red flags must be documented in the loan file, including red flags identified through various underwriting engines like Fannie Mae (DU), Freddie Mac (LPA).

The following are just some examples of red flags related to paystubs:

  • Payroll checks that are numbered, but do not increase chronologically with the pay dates.
  • Dates of pay periods are inaccurate.
  • Year-to-date totals do not balance or do not reflect the sum of pay period earnings, or year-to-date or pay period dates are inconsistent or overlap from paystub topaystub.
  • Social Security number of the pay stub does not match the borrower’s Social Security number.
  • Amount of income is not reasonable for the position held.
  • The paystub from a major employer is handwritten rather than computer generated.
  • There are inconsistencies in deductions when more than one check is present.
  • All figures are in round dollar amounts.
  • Amounts withheld for Social Security or Medicare are not consistent with the Social Security Program Rates and Limits.
  • Employer’s address is a P.O. Box.
  • Debts reflected on the payroll deductions are not reflected in the application.
  • Name of the employer is similar to the borrower

The following are examples of red flags related to undisclosed self-employment:

  • The business name contains the name or initials of the salaried borrower.
  • Borrower and co-borrower are listed as “president” and “vice president” of the same company, yet not listed as self-employed.
  • Borrower’s home phone number and employment phone number are the same, yet not listed as self-employed.

While this list is not intended to cover every red flag, this should serve to remind you that most fraudulent applications have telltale signs of potential fraud.

Stay tuned for more tips coming in the future.

Editor’s Note: A technical glitch cut off some of the bullets points in the original post. This has been corrected. Our apologies for any confusion.

Red Flags on Paystubs and Undisclosed Self-Employment Can Point To Fraud - b-Logics® (5)

About the Author

Elliot Salzman

As Chief Credit/Compliance Officer, Elliot Salzman is responsible for enhancing and managing both the credit and compliance policy functions for LoanLogics LoanHD® platform to deliver a more comprehensive approach for ensuring loan quality. Additionally, Salzman oversees the organization's Credit and Compliance Policies and Procedures. With over 26 years of mortgage industry experience, he has held numerous executive and supervisory roles related to operations, credit and compliance policy. Elliot's areas of expertise include in-depth knowledge of the end-to-end loan origination process, process improvement, quality assurance, quality control, compliance, secondary, loss mitigation and servicing. A former Underwriting Standards Manager for Fannie Mae, he most recently served as Senior Director of Credit Operations for First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation. Salzman's previous roles include Senior Vice President, Director of Consumer Policy and Underwriting for BBVA Compass Bank and Vice President of Correspondent Lending for The Bank of Oklahoma. Prior to this, Elliot built a Wholesale Banking platform in 2002 that originated to his firm's own guidelines for sale into the secondary markets. In late 2006, Elliot sold the company to a small boutique Wall Street firm. Mr. Salzman attended State University of New York at Albany.

Tagged 2018, Mortgage Lending, Risk Management, Verification of Income

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Red Flags on Paystubs and Undisclosed Self-Employment Can Point To Fraud - b-Logics® (9)

About Elliot Salzman

As Chief Credit/Compliance Officer, Elliot Salzman is responsible for enhancing and managing both the credit and compliance policy functions for LoanLogics LoanHD® platform to deliver a more comprehensive approach for ensuring loan quality. Additionally, Salzman oversees the organization's Credit and Compliance Policies and Procedures. With over 26 years of mortgage industry experience, he has held numerous executive and supervisory roles related to operations, credit and compliance policy. Elliot's areas of expertise include in-depth knowledge of the end-to-end loan origination process, process improvement, quality assurance, quality control, compliance, secondary, loss mitigation and servicing. A former Underwriting Standards Manager for Fannie Mae, he most recently served as Senior Director of Credit Operations for First Guaranty Mortgage Corporation. Salzman's previous roles include Senior Vice President, Director of Consumer Policy and Underwriting for BBVA Compass Bank and Vice President of Correspondent Lending for The Bank of Oklahoma. Prior to this, Elliot built a Wholesale Banking platform in 2002 that originated to his firm's own guidelines for sale into the secondary markets. In late 2006, Elliot sold the company to a small boutique Wall Street firm. Mr. Salzman attended State University of New York at Albany.

View all posts by Elliot Salzman →

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  1. The bullet points appear to be incomplete. For example; Payroll checks that are numbered, but do not increase chronologically with the pay (what should be here?)
    Dates of pay periods are (what should be here?)

    1. Thank you, Sarah. This has been corrected.

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Red Flags on Paystubs and Undisclosed Self-Employment Can Point To Fraud - b-Logics® (2024)

FAQs

What are the red flags of payment fraud? ›

Multiple payments invoiced in the same timeframe: same/similar goods or services. Multiple invoices with the same description of goods or services (amount, invoice or purchase order number, date) or submission at the same time of more than one invoice for the same work.

What are the red flags on pay stubs? ›

Some red flags to look out for on your pay stub include the misspelling of key personal information such as your name or Social Security number. Other red flags can include no tax withholdings or inconsistent pay.

What is an example of a red flag in fraud? ›

Pocketing payments on customers' accounts, issuing receipts on self-designed receipt books. Not depositing all cash receipts. Creating fictitious employees and collecting the paychecks. Failing to end personnel assignments for terminated employees and collecting the paychecks.

When reviewing paystubs for income verification purposes what are some red flags you should be on the lookout for choose all that apply? ›

Missing or inconsistent information such as the applicant's name, address, company, and other personal information can be a dead giveaway. The document should also include taxes, insurance deductions, and gross pay.

What is the fraud flag rule? ›

The Federal Trade Commission's Red Flag Rule requires many businesses and organizations to implement a written Identity Theft Prevention Program designed to detect the warning signs, or red flags, of identity theft in their day-to-day operations.

What are fraud flags? ›

Red Flags in Cash/Accounts Receivable

Since cash is the asset most often misappropriated, local government officials and auditors should pay close attention to any of these warning signs. ⇨ Excessive number of voids, discounts and returns. ⇨ Unauthorized bank accounts. ⇨ Sudden activity in a dormant banking accounts.

What is considered a red flag under the red flags rule? ›

The Federal Trade Commission added title 16 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), the Red Flags Rule, under the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003. Red flags are suspicious patterns or practices, or specific activities that indicate the possibility that identity theft may occur.

How are fake pay stubs detected? ›

Authentic pay stubs look the same and always have the company's logo, address, and contact information. If some of these details are missing, or they're outdated, you're probably looking at a fake pay stub. Round numbers. Something many pay stub generators miss is failing to make the numbers look real.

What does it mean to be red flagged at a job? ›

A "red flag" is something in someone's background that makes an employer think twice about hiring them. It's like a warning sign that there might be a problem. Spotting these red flags is important because it helps companies avoid hiring someone who might not be a good fit or could cause problems in the workplace.

What best describes a red flag as it relates to fraud? ›

Transactions inconsistent with the customer's profile

Transactions that don't match a customer's typical or likely activity can indicate many fraud typologies. Examples include account takeover, stolen payment information, check kiting, scams, and public benefits fraud.

What is fraud behavior? ›

A fraudulent activity is deliberately deceitful, dishonest, or untrue.

What are the criteria for fraud? ›

Proving that fraud has taken place requires the perpetrator to have committed specific acts. First, the perpetrator has to provide a false statement as a material fact. Second, the perpetrator had to have known that the statement was untrue. Third, the perpetrator had to have intended to deceive the victim.

How do I prove my income when self employed? ›

Some ways to prove self-employment income include:
  1. Annual Tax Return (Form 1040) This is the most credible and straightforward way to demonstrate your income over the last year since it's an official legal document recognized by the IRS. ...
  2. 1099 Forms. ...
  3. Bank Statements. ...
  4. Profit/Loss Statements. ...
  5. Self-Employed Pay Stubs.

Can Paystubs verify employment? ›

Yes, and it's more common than you might think. Our research indicates that verifying pay stubs is crucial and can significantly increase the credibility of your financial claims in the digital age, where it's easy to generate fake pay stubs.

Is paystub enough for employment verification? ›

They usually can only ask for verification of employment dates and income (the income verification varies from one state to another). If the former employer refuses to provide any information, some companies will then ask the potential employee to provide pay stubs for the first and last month worked.

What is a common red flag for money laundering? ›

Common red flags include large cash transactions, structuring transactions to avoid reporting thresholds, rapid movement of funds, unusual customer activity, lack of business justification, dealing with non-resident customers or Politically Exposed Persons, offshore transactions, unregistered or unlicensed entities, ...

Which three are red flags pertaining to potentially suspicious transactions by a customer? ›

(1) Official embassy business is conducted through personal accounts. (2) Account activity is not consistent with the purpose of the account. (3) Accounts are funded through substantial currency transactions.

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