Fraud prevention

Wire fraud is considered a consumer and title agent issue, but the millions of dollars it's diverting from home purchase transactions make it an issue mortgage lenders need to address, too.

A mortgage fraud scheme involving fake employment records, initially thought to be contained to Southern California, is occurring statewide, Fannie Mae said in a new fraud alert.

Wire and other payments fraud affected a record number of businesses last year, and the FBI is warning in particular about real estate scams.