Help clients prevent mortgage fraud by recommending that they:

place a “fraud alert” on the title of their house, ensuring that they are contacted before a title is transferred.

> Inspect bank statements for any unusual activity.

> Do an annual credit-rating check and look for inconsistencies in personal information and credit activity.

> Cross-shred financial and personal information, including junk mail such as credit card offers, to prevent fraudsters from stealing identitification papers from the garbage.

— STEWART LEWIS