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First American CoreLogic Announces Mortgage Industry’s Largest National Fraud Data Repository
SANTA ANA, CA - October 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- First American CoreLogic, a member of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) family of companies and America’s largest provider of advanced property and ownership information, analytics and services, today announced that it has built the mortgage industry’s most comprehensive national fraud data repository to help clients combat all types of mortgage fraud and to further enhance the predictive performance of its anti-fraud solutions.
Governor Schwarzenegger Signs Mortgage Protection Legislation
October 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- To help prevent California homeowners and homebuyers from being negatively impacted by the fraudulent mortgage practices that have arisen in the aftermath of the national foreclosure crisis, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has signed legislation to increase protections for consumers in the lending market and provide law enforcement with more tools to crack down on deceitful mortgage practices. These bills aim to strengthen California’s reverse mortgage laws by providing senior homeowners with greater consumer protections when considering reverse mortgage agreements, make it a felony to commit fraud in connection with a mortgage application and promote responsibility and accountability in the real estate market.
Vallejo Woman Charged with Mortgage and Bankruptcy Fraud
Defendant Used Fraudulent Deed to Obtain More Than $130,000 in Equity from Residence in Bankruptcy Proceeding. SAN JOSE, CA - October 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Vallejo, Calif., resident Myra Holmes was indicted by a federal grand jury with concealment of assets and bank fraud, United States Attorney Joseph P. Russoniello announced.
First American CoreLogic Introduces “2X” Mortgage Fraud Prevention Guarantee
Guarantee Leverages Newly Patented Pattern-Recognition Technology That Identifies Twice the Level of Fraud Verses Alternative Solutions. SANTA ANA, CA - October 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- First American CoreLogic, a member of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) family of companies and America’s largest provider of advanced property and ownership information, analytics and services, today announced its 2X mortgage fraud guarantee. This first-of-its-kind guarantee assures current and prospective clients that they will identify twice the level of potential fraud using First American CoreLogic’s fraud detection technology than when using technology from any other fraud solutions vendor, or the trial period will be free.
Manteca Mother-Daughter Real Estate Team Arrested in Estimated $5 Million Mortgage Fraud Scam
SACRAMENTO, CA - September 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- United States Attorney Lawrence G. Brown announced today that a criminal complaint was filed this morning charging IRENE SOTIRIADIS, 23, and HELEN SOTIRIADIS, 49, both of Manteca, with conducting a mortgage fraud scheme from March 2006 through November 2007 that caused losses to lenders estimated at approximately $5 million. Arrest warrants were issued Sunday afternoon by United States Magistrate Judge Gregory G. Hollows after a special agent of the FBI received information that the two suspects may have been intending to flee to Greece.
More than 750 Homeowners Benefit from Free Foreclosure Counseling and Mortgage Assistance at Multi-Agency...
September 21, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Homeowners were invited to attend a free, comprehensive Foreclosure Counseling Fair on Saturday, September 12, to learn about foreclosure prevention and homeownership preservation. The event took place at Jordan High School on Atlantic Avenue near Artesia Boulevard in North Long Beach from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Registration began at 9:00 am; however, homeowners started lining up at 7:30 am.
Op-ed: Homeowners Facing Foreclosure Cautioned About Scams
Op-ed by Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) and Ken Wade, Chief Executive Officer, NeighborWorks® America. September 16, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- A new wave of fraud is ripping homes out from under people who are stressed, desperate and facing foreclosure. The signs are literally nailed to posts and supermarket bulletin boards everywhere. They are advertised on television and on the internet: Refinance Your Mortgage; Facing Foreclosure? Modify Your Loan; Consolidate Your Debt, Refinance: Zero Down.
Brown Arrests Three Mortgage Brokers for Stealing Nearly $1 Million from Borrowers
Los Angeles, CA - September 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Continuing his fight against mortgage scams, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today announced that agents from his office have arrested Michael McConville, and two of his associates for their roles in a "criminal conspiracy" to steal nearly $1 million from borrowers seeking to refinance their homes
Brown to Warn Consumers About Mortgage Loan Scams at San Fernando Valley Townhall
San Fernando Valley, CA - September 9, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Thursday, September 10, 2009 at approximately 3:30 p.m., Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. will be the guest speaker at a consumer protection townhall in Sylmar, where he will warn Southern California residents about the proliferation of "devious mortgage schemes" and offer tips to avoid them. Since 2007, Sylmar has experienced the highest number of foreclosures in the City of Los Angeles.
Brown Orders Mortgage Foreclosure Consultants to Post $100,000 Bond or Face Prosecution
Los Angeles, CA - August 12, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Threatening possible criminal and civil prosecution, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. today ordered 386 mortgage foreclosure consultants to post $100,000 bonds and register with his office.
MEDIA ADVISORY: Royce to Host Combat Fraud Forum
Washington, DC - August 11, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Representative Ed Royce (R-CA) will host a forum on combating fraud on Wednesday, August 19, 1:00 pm at the Buena Park Senior Activity Center located at 8150 Knott Avenue. The event, free of charge and open to the public, will provide information on Identity Theft, Mortgage Loan and Lending, Investment Scams, and Charity Fraud.
C.A.R. approves 384 applications for its Mortgage Protection Program for first-time buyers
C.A.R. approves 384 applications for its Mortgage Protection Program for first-time buyers. Association awarded $420,000 Ira Gribin grant to provide additional policies to first-time home buyers. LOS ANGELES, CA - August 4, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- More than 380 first-time home buyers have been approved for the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Housing Affordability Fund (C.A.R.H.A.F.) Mortgage Protection Program (MPP). As of late July, 384 applications have been approved, and an additional 22 applications were in the pipeline awaiting approval.
Mayor Newsom & Supervisor Carmen Chu Announce Availability of Foreclosure Prevention Funds
July 22, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mayor Gavin Newsom and Supervisor Carmen Chu announced today that the Mayor’s Office of Housing has received a special Mortgage Credit Certificate (MCC) allocation of $9.8 million dollars to prevent families from losing their homes to foreclosure under the 2008 Housing Assistance Tax Act. This funding provides homeowners with a vehicle to refinance sub-prime loans into traditional 30 year loans that they can afford. In addition, the funding can be used by first time homebuyers to purchase bank owned and short sale properties.
Brown Sues 21 Individuals and 14 Companies Who Ripped Off Homeowners Desperate for Mortgage...
Los Angeles, CA - July 15, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — As part of a massive federal-state crackdown on loan modification scams, Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. at a press conference today announced the filing of legal action against 21 individuals and 14 companies who ripped off thousands of homeowners desperately seeking mortgage relief.
Federal and State Agencies Target Mortgage Foreclosure Rescue and Loan Modification Scams
‘Operation Loan Lies’ Aims to Help People At Risk of Losing Their Homes. July 13, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — As part of a federal/state law enforcement initiative, the Federal Trade Commission will hold a press conference in Los Angeles, California, on Wednesday, July 15, 2009, at 10 a.m., Pacific Coast Time to announce an effort to crack down on mortgage-related scams. FTC Chairman Jon Leibowitz and California Attorney General Jerry Brown will be available to answer reporters’ questions.
Brown Sues Foreclosure Consultant and Attorney Who Conned Homeowners into Paying Thousands for Phony...
Los Angeles, CA - July 8, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Attorney General Edmund G. Brown Jr. July 6 sued a foreclosure consultant and an attorney -- Paul Noe Jr. and Mitchell Roth - who conned 2,000 desperate homeowners into paying exorbitant fees for "phony lawsuits" to forestall foreclosure proceedings.
C.A.R. releases “2009 Survey of CA Home Buyers”
Increased affordability, low mortgage rates motivating home buyers, according to C.A.R.’s “2009 Survey of California Home Buyers”. LOS ANGELES, CA - July 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Favorable home prices, record-low interest rates, and the belief that rates will rise in the near future were the primary motivators leading home buyers to purchase in 2009 compared with last year, according to the CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®’ (C.A.R.) “2009 Survey of California Home Buyers” released today. Sixty-eight percent of buyers said price decreases motivated them to buy a home, while 39 percent reported low interest rates helped them move to a better location. Twenty-three percent claimed the likelihood that rates will move up as the motivating factor.
U.S. Department of Labor announces more than $3 million to continue assisting California workers...
WASHINGTON, DC - July 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — The U.S. Department of Labor has announced a $3,026,914 National Emergency Grant increment to continue assisting 1,063 California workers affected by mass layoffs and closures in the mortgage and banking industries.
Capps Votes to Strengthen Mortgage and Financial Fraud Enforcement
WASHINGTON, D.C. - May 7, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — Today Congresswoman Capps voted for legislation that would significantly enhance the enforcement and prosecution of mortgage and corporate fraud in an effort to better protect consumers. The Fraud Enforcement and Recovery Act (S. 386) will provide vital funding and tools to help law enforcement pursue and prosecute the type of financial fraud that is widely thought to have contributed to the current financial crisis. The legislation will also establish a bipartisan commission to fully investigate the causes of the near-collapse of our financial system and the ensuing recession in an effort to prevent this type of crisis from occurring again.
Boxer Regrets Defeat of Housing Measure
Washington, DC - May 1, 2009 - (RealEstateRama) — – U.S. Senator Barbara Boxer (D-CA) today spoke on the Senate floor in favor of an amendment that would have helped millions of at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure by allowing bankruptcy judges to modify mortgage terms for primary residences.