The number of mortgage-fraud cases the FBI is investigating is on the rise as scammers prey on homeowners behind on their mortgage payments and nearing foreclosure, MarketWatch reported.

The FBI is currently investigating more than 2,100 mortgage fraud cases, according to a podcast on the FBI Web site.

In 2008, the FBI was working on more than 1,600 pending mortgage fraud cases; in 2007, there were more than 1,200, according to figures cited during the podcast. Back in 2003, the FBI was working on more than 400 pending cases.

To protect against becoming a victim of mortgage fraud, get referrals from friends and relatives when selecting a real estate professional to work with, said Brian Weber, a special agent and member of the FBI’s Mortgage Fraud Team.

“We also notify people to be extremely wary of strangers or unsolicited offers for help, people who come to you to offer you assistance. We also ask people to know and understand the terms of the mortgage and the documents they sign,” he said.