By Lisa A. Tyler
National Escrow Administrator

As part of her guilty plea, a former escrow officer admitted that she obtained three properties as a straw buyer through fraudulently obtained mortgage loans. She admitted she knew documents provided to the loan originators contained one or more false representations. "ALL sorts of people on the move, including one to prison" is a follow–up story providing the sentencing handed down to the escrow officer for the crimes reported in a previous edition of Fraud Insights.

"TITLE sleuth" is an intriguing story about abandoned property in Philadelphia. The property was taken through an act of forgery and later resold for a ridiculously low price. Read the story to discover how a title examiner became a hero by preventing the Company from issuing an owner's policy on the sale of the stolen property.

That is not all from the City of Brotherly Love. Read "TRENDING now in Philadelphia" to find out how another astute title examiner discovered another forged deed, escalated it to her underwriter and saved the Company from issuing an owner's policy.

The examiner and underwriter later discovered the criminals had pulled off their heist successfully on twenty–two properties in Philadelphia before being busted by the local authorities. The title examiners in both stories, as well as the underwriter, prevented the Company from eventual claims by the buyers.

If you intend on "TRAVELING" this holiday season you must read SAFETY CORNER for information on how to keep you and your property safe. Share tips from SAFETY CORNER with your loved ones and customers – let them know you care!