Mortgage fraud quadruples in 2010

Fraudsters committed 21 cases at a cost of £96m compared to the same period in 2009, where there were 18 cases worth just £24m. One of the biggest mortgage cases was worth £50m, involving two solicitors charged with commercial mortgage fraud in relation to obtaining a money transfer by deception and dishonesty. Meanwhile, an estate agent was jailed for six years after attempting to pull off a £2m mortgage fraud after stealing the identities of two homeowners. "The fact that increasing amounts of mortgage fraud are being prosecuted is cold comfort for the financial services industry...