{"id":7326,"date":"2026-03-23T15:04:59","date_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:04:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/?p=7326"},"modified":"2026-03-23T15:06:03","modified_gmt":"2026-03-23T19:06:03","slug":"next-rhode-island-is-now-proposing-a-law-to-stop-impersonators-from-recording-deeds","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.deeds.com\/articles\/next-rhode-island-is-now-proposing-a-law-to-stop-impersonators-from-recording-deeds\/","title":{"rendered":"Next? Rhode Island Is Now Proposing a Law to Stop Impersonators From Recording Deeds"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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A new law has been introduced in Rhode Island<\/a>. If enacted, it will require anyone recording a deed to show government-issued photo ID.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2019s properties.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Deed theft typically involves forging a quitclaim or other deed, and recording a wrongful transfer of property. While this hasn\u2019t been a problem in Rhode Island historically, things are changing. According to both banks and police, New England is experiencing a rapid uptick in deed crimes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Sea Change in the World of Deeds<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Rhode Island proposal is a lot like laws currently under consideration in other places. We\u2019re watching this as it unfolds in Arizona<\/a>. Oh, and Texas<\/a> too\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You might have thought proof of identity was already required to file a deed. But this was not traditionally part of the recorder\u2019s role. In pre-Covid days, deed recorders accepted deeds that were properly filled out and notarized. Then they\u2019d enter the legal document into the public record.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How the deed world is changing! High-tech con artists are getting better and better at forging notarizations. Can a deed recorder just take a notarized deed at face value today? More and more, the answer is no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Tightening laws on deed fraud is one of AARP\u2019s legislative priorities. Older adults make up a large portion of the people who lose their homes to swindlers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Rhode Island lawmakers who back this bill have also pointed out the vulnerability of older homeowners. Rep. Brian Patrick Kennedy said in a press release: \u201cThese scams, which often prey upon older homeowners, are becoming increasingly more common.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kennedy\u2019s right. The Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) is a division of the FBI that accepts public complaints about internet-assisted crimes, including theft of real estate deeds. IC3 issued a report covering incidents in 2019 through 2023. There were tens of thousands of deed fraud victims. The damage added up to well over a billion dollars. Out of the total, 224 victims were in Rhode Island. Close to five million dollars was reported lost. But total losses \u201care most likely much higher,\u201d the FBI states, because \u201cmany don\u2019t know where to report it, are embarrassed, or haven\u2019t yet realized they have been scammed.\u201d FBI Boston, which covers New England, has called on agents and deed holders to protect deeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Making Deed Fraud a Crime in Rhode Island<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In addition to changing the rules of deed filing, the Rhode Island proposal aims to make deed fraud a felony. And there\u2019s more. Here are the bill\u2019s key provisions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Senate Bill 2715 would:<\/p>\n\n\n\n