According to analytics firm Interthinx, the risk of property valuation fraud increased during the first quarter.  The report noted that in addition to high property appraisals, individuals purchasing and listing multiple properties in the same neighborhood to artificially control prices to their advantage also is a contributing factor to the rise in property valuation fraud risk.

“This quarter’s report is a reminder that lenders need to be aware of emerging fraud risks,” Jeff Moyer, president of Interthinx, said in the report. “The rise in property valuation risk is troublesome because collateral values are a critical element in making sound lending decisions. To make lending decisions with increased confidence in the loan’s quality, we recommend that lenders use automated tools early in the valuation process to double check opinions of value, quality of work and regulatory compliance on issues such as licensing.”

In order, the top 10 riskiest states and regions during the first quarter are California, the District of Columbia, Florida, Maryland, Arizona, Connecticut, New Jersey, Maine, Arkansas and Colorado. For the first time since the inception of this report in 2009, Nevada is not in the top 10.