Jeff Parrott has written an engaging two-part series about mortgage fraud in South Bend. You can read part 1 and part 2 in the South Bend Tribune (permalink). The article sidebars several simple suggestions on How to Avoid Mortgage Fraud including seek referrals and understand what you are signing. A practical suggestion is to be cautious of any real estate professional who doesn’t patiently and fully answer all of your questions.
You may want to also revisit this post to learn more about housing fraud.