Attempted mortgage frauds up 14%

Credit rating agency Experian said attempts at mortgage fraud rose to 32 for every 10,000 applications. Frauds attempts typically involved individuals inflating the prospects or status of their employment and personal finances, not disclosing previous addresses or attempting to conceal an adverse credit history. The rise is despite banks tightening lending criteria dramatically since the beginning of the credit crisis. Nick Mothershaw, director of identity and fraud at Experian, says: "Fraud in the UK has been fuelled by the recession's aftermath, and it is likely that financial se...