The Nevada Attorney General received 788 mortgage fraud consumer complaints in 2012, with the majority centered around allegations of fraudulent loan modifications or loss mitigation offers.

Nevada Attorney General Catherine Cortez Masto said her office's Mortgage Fraud Unit highlighted the most common mortgage fraud complaints from 2012, with suspicious or fraudulent loan modification offers taking the top spot, followed by robo-signing and other documentation issues. 

Customer service issues came in third.

The two remaining issues include falsified documents and other mortgage fraud activities such as attempts to buy homes fraudulently or fraudulent liens and offers to act as a mediator for parties trying to acquire loans.

"I encourage Nevadans to seek mortgage assistance through Home Again Nevada," said Masto. "In general, there is no reason to hire a for-profit loan modification company. Homeowners can directly negotiate loan modifications with Home Again Nevada who will connect you with a trained Housing and Urban Development certified counselor for free.  Contacting Home Again Nevada will help people from falling victim to scams."

Masto said her office’s efforts resulted in consumers receiving $442,745 in relief from completed investigations stemming from 2012 mortgage fraud investigations.

The AG is advising distressed borrowers in the state to use the Home Again program, which allows homeowners to easily decipher what state or federal assistance programs are available to them.