10 states and 4 federal agencies join their efforts against mortgage fraud

As it became known on Monday, ten state attorneys general and four federal agencies are forming a task force to fight mortgage fraud.

According to the statement issued on Monday by Washington state Attorney General Rob McKenna, targets of the enforcement effort include equity skimming, bogus foreclosure rescue, straw purchases and unethical lending.

McKenna and Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller are leading the group, which includes the attorneys general of Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, Nevada, North Carolina, Massachusetts, Missouri and Ohio, the statement says. Representatives of the U.S. Department of Justice, the federal Treasury, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Federal Trade Commission also are joining.