JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Florida first saw a real estate boom, then came the bust.

Federal prosecutors said they've made more than 100 mortgage fraud arrests, cracking down on an epidemic of scamming that they said began during the boom years.

In the Jacksonville area, prosecutors arrested 24 people linked to more than $244 million in fraudulent loans, the highest dollar amount in the state.

The Fort Myers area had 32 arrests. Investigators made 30 arrests in the Tampa area, where they said 313 properties were linked to fraudulent schemes.

There were 19 arrests in Orlando.

In all, the loans topped $400 million.

Prosecutors said these schemes were carried out in a number of ways, including fraudulent appraisals, stolen identities and other illegal tactics.

Investigators said home buyers and sellers can protect themselves from becoming a victim of fraud.

"If they're giving you a deal that sounds way too good to be true, ask them to pick up the phone and call the licensing agency here in Florida that gives them a license and run that scheme by the licensing agency," said Jim Casey, a special FBI agent in charge.

Prosecutors said with their stepped-up investigation, they accomplished in nine months what would normally take several years.

If you think you may be a victim of mortgage fraud, you can call the Florida Office of Financial Regulation at 800-848-3792.