SALEM, Ore. (Legal Newsline)--The Oregon attorney general said Wednesday that he will use new federal grant money to pursue mortgage fraud cases.
Attorney General John Kroger, a Democrat, said the grant funds one new prosecutor position and one new investigator to pursue moprtgage frauds.
"When the economy worsens, and people are threatened with losing their homes, they often get desperate, which puts them at extreme risk for fraud," Kroger said in a statement. "This is when people need our help the most, and I am excited to announce that we now have the tools we need to hold mortgage scammers accountable."
The grant comes from federal economic stimulus funds, the statement indicates.
In addition to the grant award, Kroger's office is starting a consumer education program aimed at helping consumers better protect themselves from mortgage fraud.
Since taking office in January, Kroger has opened nearly a dozen mortgage fraud and foreclosure scam investigations.