Attorney General Tom Corbett today announced that Pennsylvania has joined a multi-state working group probing questionable mortgage foreclosure activity.

Corbett said that Attorneys General from 49 states, along with banking and mortgage regulators from 37 states, have agreed to coordinate their investigations into mortgage-related issues that the states share in common.

"Given the potential size and scope of this issue, it is important that we share information and work quickly to address possible problems," Corbett said.

Corbett said the multi-state effort is in addition to an ongoing investigation by the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection into potentially improper foreclosures in Pennsylvania.

"We encourage homeowners to contact our office as soon as possible if they believe they have been targeted by inappropriate foreclosures," Corbett said. "We are working to determine if any lenders or mortgage servicing companies operating in Pennsylvania have violated our Consumer Protection Laws by failing to follow proper foreclosure procedures."

Homeowners who believe they have been victimized can access online complaint forms on the Attorney General's website. Those without computer access can call the Attorney General's toll-free Consumer Protection Hotline, at 1-800-441-2555 (Monday-Friday, from 8:30am to 4:30pm).

Corbett also recommended that homeowners who have received foreclosure notices should contact the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) for information about emergency mortgage assistance, foreclosure mitigation counseling and other services that may be available. Consumers can call PHFA directly at 1-800-822-1174, or review detailed information about mortgage and foreclosure assistance services on the PHFA website, at: http://www.phfa.org/consumers/homeowners/hemap.aspx

Corbett said the multi-state investigation includes the Attorneys General from Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

The investigation also includes state banking and mortgage regulators from Arizona, Arkansas, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.