For most scam artists, fraud is a morally murky process that involves taking money from people who are often motivated by greed to push the limits of common sense.

Victims of financial fraud are often involved in Ponzi schemes, where proceeds from new investors are used to pay off older investors until the entire edifice collapses.

But mortgage fraud is different — it has ripple effects far beyond the tight circle of folks usually involved in a Ponzi scheme. Which is why the mid-June arrests of more than a dozen people from Ventura County on conspiracy and other charges related to fraud in the housing arena is significant.

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