Curtis L. Novy, Certified Fraud Investigator
Carlsbad , CA 92010
30 years experience specializing in complex financial investigations, mortgage & real estate fraud, escrow/title FTC violations, insurance fraud, DRE licensing/misconduct, mortgage underwriting, private/hard money lending, loan servicing violations, Truth-In-Lending & RESPA violations, wire & mail fraud, wrongful foreclosure, real estate scams, fraudulent deed transfer, elder financial abuse, identity theft, notary fraud, and real estate standards & practices.
I serve as a confidential financial crimes industry mortgage fraud task force member and elder financial exploitation task force member. Please contact me for assignment availability: (858) 336-0520 | CurtNovy@gmail.com.
In the past year, I have testified as a court approved expert witness in eight civil trials in federal and state courts in Chicago, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Phoenix, Oakland, San Diego, and San Francisco. Confidential consulting services are provided to: Banks, financial institutions, law firms, lenders, AG Offices, state/federal law enforcement, municipalities, and public agencies. Active memberships in ABA, ACFE, ACAMS, MBA, and banking/law enforcement fraud industry groups.
As a seasoned FULL-TIME investigator and expert witness, I am uniquely qualified by combining my skills as a former auditor, bank fraud examiner, compliance & audit manager, licensed fraud investigator, mortgage underwriter ($1M Wells Fargo authority), and mortgage/real estate broker to provide superior guidance to attorney, banking, and institutional clients.
My focus is on civil litigation involving bank fraud, forensic loan audits, foreclosure fraud, identity theft of real estate, escrow & title fraud, forged title deeds, insurance fraud, loan document examination, mortgage fraud, notary fraud, loan servicing, hard money lender practices, mortgage & real estate standards & practices, and RESPA violations.
All services are directed through Financial Investigative Services (FIS). Based on our experience in commercial and residential lending and real estate, we are often retained as both financial investigators and expert witnesses. FIS is owned and managed by Curt Novy, a mortgage underwriting, real estate, and investigation industry veteran.
FIS is retained by leading law firms, financial institutions, state/federal agencies, and public agencies such as municipal water districts. As a licensed private investigation firm, we provide background investigations, fraud investigations, title fraud examinations, witness/suspect interviews, surveillance, and provide a wide variety of additional services to compliment our core expert witness testimony.
In addition to expert witness testimony, FIS offers professional licensing verification, real estate audits, construction fraud investigations, bank fraud examinations, divorce investigations, forged document examination, fingerprint analysis, forensic accounting, insurance fraud, and notary fraud investigations through our suite of professional services or available through to our proprietary network of pre-screened financial examiners.
Please visit our expert witness and consumer protection websites:
• FinancialInvestigativeServices.com
• MortgageExpertWitnesses.com
• FinancialCrimesNetwork.com
• WhiteCollarPI.com
Our flexible pricing structure saves our attorney clients time and money by providing a one-stop source of project services including: contract fraud investigations, mortgage/real estate analysis, forensic audits, document examination, and expert witness services. All expert witness work is personally completed by Curt Novy.
Representative cases include: bank fraud, commercial & construction loans, concealment of real estate holdings, divorce asset disputes, bankruptcy fraud, elder financial abuse, non-profit asset theft, embezzlement, fraudulent deed transfers, foreclosures, identity theft, insurance fraud, wrongful foreclosure, and wire fraud.
2024 Professional Memberships:
• American Bar Association (non-attorney member)
• American Land Title Association (ALTA)
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
• Association of Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)
• California Financial Crimes Investigators Association (CFCIA)
• California Association of Licensed Investigators (CALI)
• International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCIA)
• International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA)
• Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
• Professional Private Investigators Association of Colorado (PPIAC)
Primary Areas of Expert Witness Testimony:
• Agency Buybacks & Insurance Claims
• Bank Audits & Fair Lending Examinations
• Mortgage & Real Estate Fraud, Divorce Investigations
• Elder Financial Abuse & Identity Theft
• Falsified Documents & Forged Deeds
• HUD Lender Investigations
• Loan Application Fraud, Misstatement of Material Facts, PPP Loan Fraud
• Mortgage Fraud Audits & Mortgage Underwriting Standards & Practices
• Private Mortgage Insurance, Private Investor Loans, Promissory Notes
• Real Estate Regulations and Standards of Care for Mortgage & Real Estate Brokers
• Title & Escrow Standards & Practices, Title Fraud, and Forged Grant Deeds
CA Dept. of Real Estate Broker's License # 01108665
CA Bureau of Security & Investigative Services, Qualified Manager/PI License # PI188926
AZ Dept. of Public Services, Qualified Manager/PI License # 1773687
https://www.linkedin.com/in/curtisnovy/
#RealEstateExpertWitness
#MortgageExpertWitnesses
#WhiteCollarPI
#FinancialCrime
- Commercial Real Estate
- Construction Lending
- Escrow/Title Insurance
- Fraud Investigation
- Insurance Fraud
- Mortgages
- Real Estate Broker
- Real Estate Damages
- Residential Real Estate
- White Collar Crime
- Q: Please list your professional accreditations, degrees, licenses, and certificates granted:
- A: Active CA Real Estate Broker's License
AZ Private Investigator's License
CA Bureau of Security & Investigations- Licensed Private Investigator/Qualified Manager
CO Private Investigator
Certified Fraud Investigator Credential (CFCIA Organization)
Bank certified mortgage underwriter & credit risk management (Wells Fargo Bank)
Bachelor's of Arts, CA State University Long Beach
Colorado Real Estate Brokers License (inactive)
- Q: Please list your affiliations or memberships in any professional and/or industry organizations:
- A: Active Memberships:
• American Bar Association (Non-Attorney Member)
• Association of Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialists (ACAMS)
• Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)
• CA Association of Certified Fraud Investigators (CFCIA)- Certified Fraud Investigator credential
• CA Association of Licensed Private Investigators (CALI)
• CA Desert Area Association of Realtors (CDAR)
• International Association of Financial Crimes Investigators (IAFCI)
• International Association of Crime Analysts (IACA)
• Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA)
• Professional Private Investigators Association (PPIA) of CO
- Q: Please list any teaching or speaking experience you have had, including subject matter:
- A: -Mortgage & Real Estate Fraud Training- State & Federal Agencies
-AARP Training for seniors in the areas of avoiding real estate investment scams
-Interviewed and quoted by AARP, CNN, CNBC American Greed, NY Times, Wall Street Journal
- Q: Have any of your accreditations ever been investigated, suspended or removed? (if yes, explain)
- A: No.
- Q: On how many occasions have you been retained as an expert?
- A: 200+ civil and criminal fraud cases. Primary expert testimony in areas of financial institution fraud including mortgage and real estate, bank fraud, escrow/title insurance fraud, mortgage identity theft, private lender fraud and misconduct. Actively retained on cases involving embezzlement of non-profit funds, bank fraud, insurance fraud, identity theft, mortgage banker disputes, insurance claims, and probate fraud.
- Q: For what area(s) of expertise have you been retained as an expert?
- A: Bank Fraud
Bankruptcy Financial Fraud
Commercial Lending & Lender Loss Analysis
Divorce Cases- Misappropriation of Community Assets
Identity Theft
Escrow & Title Fraud
Elder Financial Theft
Employee Misconduct & Executive Investigations
Financial Crimes
Human Resources/Internal Investigations
Identity Theft of Real Estate
Loan Servicing & Foreclosure
Mortgage Origination Practices
Mortgage Lending & Servicing Standards & Practices
Fraud Investigations
Real Estate Fraud
Fraudulent Deeds, Title Theft
Trustee & Probate Fraud - Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the plaintiff?
- A: Approximately 50%
- Q: In what percentage of your cases were you retained by the defendant?
- A: Approximately 50%
- Q: On how many occasions have you had your deposition taken?
- A: 40+
- Q: When was the last time you had your deposition taken?
- A: Recent Depositions: Seven depositions YTD related to mortgage & real estate fraud, DRE violations, elder financial abuse, loan servicing, private lending, and wrongful foreclosures.
3/2024 | 5/2024 | 9/2024 | 10/2024 (4) |
Recent Trial Testimony:
Trial testimony January 2024 (Chicago Federal Court)
Trial testimony January 2024 (Las Vegas State Court)
Trial testimony February 2024 (Oakland Superior Court)
Trial testimony May 2024 (San Francisco Superior Court)
Trial testimony November 2023 (AZ State Court)
Trial testimony September 2023 (Los Angeles Superior Court)
Trial testimony March 2023 (San Diego Court)
- Q: On how many occasions have you been qualified by a court to give expert testimony?
- A: 35+
- Q: On how many occasions have you testified as an expert in court or before an arbitrator?
- A: 12 Trials. Most recent civil trial testimony appearances: 9/2022, 3/2023, 9/2023, 11/2023, 1/2024, 2/2024 (2 cases), 3/2024, and 5/2024. I have issued 100+ court declarations and expert witness reports over the past 10 years. Admitted and testified in state & federal courts in both bench and jury trials.
- Q: For how many years have you worked with the legal industry as an expert?
- A: 15+ years. Significant ongoing continuing education and industry conferences in 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024. Conferences attended in 2024: IAFCI 8/2024, ACFE 7/2024, CFCIA 5/2024 and ACFE Global Fraud Conference 6/2023. Conferences attended in 2023: ACFE Global Fraud Conference, CFCIA Conference, CALI.
- Q: What services do you offer? (E.g.: consulting, testing, reports, site inspections etc.)
- A: Confidential Attorney Consulting
Court Declarations
Expert Witness Reports
Witness Interviews
Primary Focus of Investigative and Expert Witness Services:
Real Estate Expert Witness
Mortgage Expert Witness
Mortgage Fraud Investigations
Loan Servicing & HUD Regulations
Escrow/Title/Wire Fraud Expert Witness
Civil & Criminal Fraud Investigations, Surveillance
Mortgage Identity Theft
Mortgage Underwriting- Agency Fannie Mae & Freddie Mac, HUD, Jumbo, and VA
Mortgage Risk Management - Q: What is your hourly rate to consult with an attorney?
- A: 2024 Flexible Fee Schedule (subject to change):
1.) Financial crimes investigations: $300.00 per hour for fraud examination, background investigations, Notary & Deed fraud investigations, professional license verification, witness interviews, DMV record searches, and surveillance.
2.) Forensic and fraud examination of mortgage lender files. Flat fee $3,000.00 per file, prepaid.
3.) Celebrity & High Profile Clients- Specialized investigations to uncover internal fraud or examine investment proposals. Risk assessment of potential threats.
4.) Mortgage & Real Estate Expert Witness Services: See retainer agreement for terms. Retainer fee is $7,500.00.
Note: Clients must be represented by counsel.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to review documents?
- A: Mortgage/Real Estate Expert Witness: Initial phone consultation with attorney (first 15-30 minutes, no charge). Attorney consultation services for pre-litigation or to examine loan documents, lender records, or real estate files for a flat fee to assess case viability.
- Q: What is your hourly rate to provide deposition testimony?
- A: See Retainer Agreement for all terms & conditions.
Note: Attorneys may not designate me as an expert in court filings unless a signed retainer agreement and advance payment of retainer fee is received. - Q: What is your hourly rate to provide testimony at trial?
- A: Please see retainer agreement.
- Q: Please list any fees other than those stated above (E.g.: travel expenses, copy fees, etc.)
- A: See Retainer Agreement. Out of state travel may be waived or negotiated flat fee.
Available Upon Request. Excellent attorney references available from 2008 through 2024.
Curtis L. Novy, Certified Fraud Investigator
Carlsbad , CA 92010
Office: