I had the pleasure of attending the Utah Division of Real Estate Caravan today.  The Division presented three speakers on various subjects including Mortgage Fraud and it's consequences.  If any of you know me, you know that I am a passionate individual, if I get somehting in my craw, I will let you know about it.  Utah is #1 in mortgage fraud, this is not a good thing.  It gives my profession a black eye.  However, one statistic stuck out to me today, 67% of mortgage fraud is committed by people outside of the Division of Real Esate's jurisdiction.  What does this mean? The vast majority of mortgage fraud in Utah is being committed by non-licensed individuals, be this bank LO's or the general population.  I know some of this is done because of ignorance, but I also know of too many companies within the state that have taught people how to commit fraud by placing notices of interest on properties, that inflate appraisals, that strip equity and leave straw buyers in a learch when their usefulness is through. 

If you are in the business and you see something henke, please, please report it to the DRE in your state, it is our job to make our industry the cleanest possible.