Category: Deed Fraud
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Next? Rhode Island Is Now Proposing a Law to Stop Impersonators From Recording Deeds
A new law has been introduced in Rhode Island. If enacted, it will require anyone recording a deed to show government-issued photo ID. County officials would gain the authority to delay recording, or report a suspicious document to law enforcement. The point? To deter would-be fraudsters attempting to take over people’s properties. Deed theft typically…
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New Deed Fraud Law Advances in Arizona
Arizona is fed up with deed fraud. Con artists who target deeds go for “a person’s home, their savings, and the work of a lifetime,” says Representative Selina Bliss. Now, a bill in Arizona’s legislature is poised to better protect deed holders from manipulators who take homes out from under people. House Bill 2080 passed—unanimously—out…
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Texas Says Time’s Up for Deed Hustlers
A wave of real estate scams has prompted action by Texas lawmakers. Real estate theft and fraud are now in the criminal code. Naming deed crimes is part of a growing trend that you might recall from a series of articles we’ve offered on New York’s new law, naming “deed theft” as a crime category.…
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End Deed Fraud! Florida Tests ID Rule, California Requires Alerts
Real estate prices keep rising. A home title is increasingly valuable. For people who specialize in deed fraud, deed records might as well be pots of gold. These smooth operators are on the lookout for properties they can control, sell, or use to obtain loan or rent money. What happened to the days when a…
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On the Rise: Deed Theft in New England
Can you imagine if someone faked a quitclaim deed and transferred your home out from under you? Years of steadily built-up equity, taken in one fell swoop. It does happen. New York has had to formally create a crime named “deed theft” to treat it with the seriousness it deserves—not just as forgery, but in…
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How Arizona Is Fighting Back Against Deed Fraud
A Rural County’s Innovation Becomes a Statewide Model for Property Protection Deed fraud complaints to Arizona’s Attorney General have surged in recent years, with at least 65 cases reported in just a 20-month period.¹ But from Mohave County in Arizona’s northwest corner, an innovative program is gaining traction as a model for the entire state—and…
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Keeping Ahead of the Deed Snatchers, From Albany to Honolulu
Your deed is precious. Just ask anyone who may have lost theirs to criminals. We’ve recently seen multiple governments responding to deed crimes. Actions span the country, from Albany to Honolulu — and places in between. Here’s what’s new, and what might keep a frightening fate from befalling your deed.
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Sell a Home You Don’t Own? Here’s How They Do It in Scottsdale
Here’s a true story about seller impersonation that landed in the news during the first week of 2026. The story starts with an owner of a home in Arizona getting an alert from the local deed recorder’s office of Maricopa County. Uh oh. The recorder’s office was notifying the deed holder that the title to…
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Another Brooklyn Deed Theft? Isn’t This a Felony Now?
Carmella Charrington of Brooklyn has a disturbing story to tell. And New York City’s News 12 reporters listened. In a state where deed theft is now named as grand larceny under the criminal law, some self-declared “new homeowner” broke into her home earlier this month. Then the stranger tried to evict Charrington. The office of…
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Will Louisville Make New Rules to Stop Quitclaim Fraud? The Question Is Now a Political Flashpoint
In Louisville, Kentucky, residents are demanding that officials create safeguards to prevent the recording of fraudulent deeds. Louisville is located in Jefferson County, the largest of the Kentucky counties. The county has been in the news over quitclaim deed fraud. In a recent, high-profile case, a con artist got away with transferring a deed out…
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A First in the Nation: Cuyahoga County to Install Two-Factor Authentication for Recorded Documents
Could the party be over for deed thieves in Cuyahoga County, Ohio? Home to the beautiful city of Cleveland, it will soon be the first U.S. county to offer two-factor authentication for the recording of legal documents. This is a milestone in the effort to stop fraudulent deed transfers. To explain the forthcoming change, we…
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Deed Theft Update: Disbarred Lawyer Jailed in New York
The New York Times reports that Sanford Solny, convicted in June in the Supreme Court of Brooklyn (pictured in banner photo), is now in jail. Solny is a disbarred lawyer and real estate investor charged with stealing New York City homes. He is now in jail for probation violations. “It’s about time,” said Lisa A.,…
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AG James Nails First Criminal Conviction Under NY Home Equity Theft Protection Act
Recently, a New York real estate agent pleaded guilty in a deed theft case. Yes, a real estate agent. Oscar Dais used to be a real estate agent in Rockland County, New York. But no more. Oscar Dais admitted to a property theft that involved falsely signing a deed to his own company, while pretending…
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Get Up to Speed: Updated Guide to AI Fraud in Real Estate Deals
With home values as high as they are now, it’s no wonder swindlers target people involved in deed transactions and mortgages. High-stakes scammers tend to be smooth operators. Smoother than ever, with artificial intelligence (AI). So it’s good to know the warning signs, and investigate concerns when in doubt. Read on for a quick view…
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Pennsylvania Gets Ready to Pass Deed Fraud Law—And Philly Says No More Deed Theft From the Dead
Deed theft is the deliberate and wrongful transfer of real estate. It’s not particularly common across the country. But in areas where property values have shot up, it’s a growing trend. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania is one area of concern. Last year, Philly tallied up 110 reports of deed fraud. We promised to keep you posted on…
