Tag: deed fraud
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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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Why Would Scammers Collect Recordings of a Real Estate Pro’s Voice?
The short answer: to create voice impersonations for future fraud. Most people look to real estate professionals when buying or selling a home. Imposter agents can do tremendous damage. We’ve already discussed AI-enabled deed fraud. Voice-cloning raises the stakes. Here’s the latest.
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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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When Protectors Become Predators: Exposing Professionals Who Exploit Their Senior Clients
A few months ago in Miami, a real estate agent misused the power of attorney against a client. The agent bequeathed himself $1.6 million in oceanfront real estate that belonged to this customer, according to investigators. Also this year, in Western Kentucky, an elder law specialist pleaded guilty to exploitation of an older adult, and…
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Seniors Lose Billions Each Year to Scammers: 5 Quick Tips to Protect Yourself
According to the FBI, scammers take advantage of seniors to the tune of billions annually. A lot of this happens because seniors own a massive amount of U.S. real estate, a hard and valuable asset. To avoid enriching the wrong people, keep our five tips in mind. Consider sharing this column with friends who need…
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First Phishing, Now Quishing… ALTA on the New Face of Deed Fraud
The DC-based American Land Title Association (ALTA) wants you to imagine a scenario that, one day soon, you could face. You’re a home buyer. You’ve talked with the lender a few times in the past, and know the company logo and email style. You’re familiar with the loan officer’s voice. The lender has left a…
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Ohio Cancer Survivor Recovers Home After Quitclaim Fraud
A Dayton homeowner finally got her deed back. The title to Robin M’s home was swiped out from under her while she was undergoing cancer treatments two years ago. Last year, she proved that her property was taken from her by deed theft. The Common Pleas Court of Montgomery County, Ohio determined that her Dayton…
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Will Pennsylvania Criminalize Deed Theft?
Deed fraud, or deed theft, is the improper transfer of property ownership by deceit. In most states, it’s a very rare incident. But when it happens, it’s devastating. State criminal laws do generally deal with theft, forgery, and fraud. And yet, many don’t have a specific law for deed theft. In Pennsylvania, Representatives Christopher…
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Opinion: Who Really Wins? New York’s Deed Fraud Bill Protects Title Insurers, Not Homeowners
New York lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 7732 as a response to the growing crisis of deed fraud — a real and rising threat to property owners across the country. On the surface, the bill looks like reform. But a closer look reveals what it really is: a convenient liability shield for title insurers.
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Ghoulish: Who Steals Deeds From the Dead?
In Houston, stealing deeds from dead people is a thing. Investigators are looking into a deed fraud scheme carried out by three people. These people allegedly laundered deeds of dead homeowners through their limited liability companies. Then they sold the homes to unsuspecting buyers. They’ve pulled in hundreds of thousands of dollars. “This is no…
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Modern Inconveniences: Remote Transactions and Deed Fraud
A CBS news outlet says online swindlers are “overwhelming county deed offices” throughout the state of Maine. Worse, it’s left targeted title owners scrambling to recover their properties. Many are forced to take their cases to the courts for quiet title actions. A senior FBI agent in Maine, Christopher Peavey, spoke with CBS Channel 13…
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Follow That Land Rover! Deed Thieves in California Brought to Justice
Imagine someone gaining control of your home title through deed theft. Then they take a loan out against your home. Someone you don’t know. A loan never heard about. Then, the scoundrel went out and bought a Land Rover with your property value, and used it to start their own winery. The Land Rover deed…
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Selling a Home, But Not Your Own: The Dramatic Rise of Seller Impersonation Fraud
The American Land Title Association surveyed hundreds of title companies — 783, to be precise — and found seller impersonation fraud rising year over year. More than 20% of the firms reported recent instances of this bizarre activity. Crafting elaborate hoaxes, these con artists pretend to be ordinary real estate owners. They are masters of…
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Seniors’ Advocates Urge States to Ban Predatory ‘Cash for Listing’ Contracts
States are outlawing listing agreements that bind homeowners to specific companies to sell their homes in the future. In the last two years, 30 states have acted to prevent businesses from taking control of people’s property by recording brokers’ contracts against their deeds. The agreements can result in restrictions, liens, or even stealth mortgages recorded…
