Sorry..BTW, the only way to get around it is to commit tax fraud.

If an owner were allowed to remain in the property after a short sale, the banks feel like it would promote more fraud/misrepresentation on the borrower's part in order to do a short sale.  

I've heard NV, UT, WY are states the have more personal identity protection, however you will still have to pay CA taxes etc.

Mortgage fraud is a very serious thing so you definitely need to make sure you are living in the property.

Being an IT guy i'm super leery about giving away my social to someone I can't verify... that's a quick way to identity theft.

Watch out for fraud.

Various news articles indicated that these companies had been involved in alleged real estate fraud.2.A U.S. bank reported that a real estate investment company located in the eastern part of the United States made multiple cash deposits within a five-week period in amounts that totaled almost one million dollars.

Here is a sample board that has an identical format: https://trello.com/b/tsSiw9QN NA Beard Your point on getting everything in writing is a good one.  

I am coming across conflicting articles (http://speakingofrealestate.blogs.realtor.org/2011/09/07/fraud-are-your-clients-using-reverse-staging/) and past posts; some adamantly say it is illegal, some say they are submitting a contract in an LLC or Trust and then assigning the next day (wholesaling the short) and that this is legal.Any insight is much appreciated, from either side, backed up with reasoning.

Call the fraud hotline.