The Obama administration’s effort to prosecute mortgage crimes has resulted in a surge in the number of active mortgage fraud cases, according to a recent report.

The mortgage fraud index, which is published by MortgageDaily.com based on activity tracked at the mortgage fraud blog FraudBlogger.com, was 1699. The index was higher than the prior quarter’s 1144 and also elevated from a year earlier.

The highest level for the FraudBlogger.com Index was 2790 in the fourth-quarter 2008.

The index reflects both the number and dollar amount of active mortgage fraud cases. The latest index was impacted by a surge in active cases as the administration’s Operation Stolen Dreams targeted mortgage fraud activity.

"The government’s push to bring mortgage fraudsters to justice is certainly welcome, but the cases brought to date represent only the tip of the iceberg in terms of how much fraud was actually committed during the real estate boom," said Ann Fulmer, vice president business relations at Interthinx. "It’s sobering to know that only a small minority of cases are ever prosecuted, and it ought to serve as a reminder that the industry must protect itself by focusing on prevention."