After last year's robo-signing scandals, where it was discovered that major mortgage banks were involved in major foreclosure fraud stemming from the use of robo-signers, things were supposed to change. Foreclosure documentation in Fort Lauderdale and everywhere else would no longer be signed by unqualified employees, often temps, who did not read nor verify any of the documentation they were signing. Nevermind that their signature was certifying that they had read and verified the documents.

Chastened banks said amid negotiations about just how bit a fine they should pay in order to reach a settlement and avoid litigation over the fraud, that they would of course cease and desist from all robo-signing of foreclosure documents. However, a recent investigation by Reuters indicates that robo-signing is still alive and well in the mortgage industry.

Fort Lauderdale foreclosure defense lawyers noted that Reuters found banks to still be using the same practices that caused an outcry last year and led to many states calling temporary moratoriums on foreclosures.

Just in recent months, mortgage banks have filed thousands of documents that seem to be fraudulent or altered. Affidavits swearing to documents' authenticity have been sworn to documents containing falsehoods.

Reuters went so far as to identify six robo-signers who are still in action, signing hundreds of documents a day without reading them.

One specific example was Christina Carter, who works for Ocwen Loan Servicing of West Palm Beach, Florida, a "sub-servicer" that takes on day-to-day foreclosure tasks on behalf of the mortgage banks. Ms. Carter's signature is just two letter "C"s, and her signature alone has appeared on thousands of mortgage documents in 2011.

One judge identified Carter as a known robo-signer, and also noticed that her signature, simple as it is, varies between documents, raising the issue of whether others are also using her name to sign mortgage documents.

Foreclosure attorneys advise distressed homeowners to seek assistance with foreclosure documentation. With the right expertise, false documentation from the banks can be exposed.

Source: Reuters "Special report: Banks continue robo-signing" 7/18/2011