Maryland Feds, State, Local Law Enforcement Form Mortgage Fraud Task Force; Bogus Foreclosure Assistance Firms Among The Targets

The Washington Post reports:

• Maryland U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein yesterday announced the formation of a task force linking federal, state and local agencies in the fight against mortgage fraud, a group whose goals will include seizing assets from scam artists and paying restitution to victims.

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• The task force brings together representatives of 17 agencies, including members of the FBI, state regulators, federal housing officials and local prosecutors from Montgomery County, Prince George's and Baltimore. It is similar to three dozen federally coordinated mortgage fraud task forces that have been created nationwide. Amid the continuing financial crisis, the Justice Department has made mortgage fraud and other financial crimes a priority.

For more, see More Muscle Against Mortgage Fraud (U.S., State, Local Agencies Form Task Force).

See also, The Associated Press: Task force targets Md.'s high mortgage fraud areas:

• The task force is attacking a spectrum of fraudulent acts, from phony home appraisals and loan documents to dubious foreclosure-prevention specialists who prey on those who've lost the equity in their home and need to rebuild credit. loan modification