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Title fraud in the news
What’s happening with deed fraud and property records, explained in plain English.
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· U.S. Attorney's Office, District of Massachusetts (Department of Justice)
Texas Man Agrees to Plead Guilty in $1.5 Million Scheme to Sell Land He Did Not Own
A Texas man has agreed to plead guilty to allegedly impersonating property owners, selling their vacant land and laundering the money. Court filings describe more than $1.5 million in fraudulent sales across four states, targeting owners who lived elsewhere.
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· Bangor Daily News
Maine Commission Calls for Prevention Focus on Deed Fraud, Including Fake Sellers of Land
A commission created by the Maine Legislature has reported that deed fraud, especially people trying to sell property they do not own, is starting to appear in the state. The report says there is little data on how often it happens and urges a focus on prevention.
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· Jingletree (aggregating New York Post coverage)
Woman Accused in Queens Deed Theft Case Now Says Her Alleged Partner Forged Deeds to Take Her Home
Deepa Roy, 69, was indicted in August 2025 with Victor Quimis, 40, over the alleged theft of a dying widow's Queens home. Roy is now suing Quimis, claiming he forged deeds to take her own $817,000 Flushing property.
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· FOX 25 (KOKH)
Oklahoma Man Charged After Trying to File Deed for $5.4M Home He Allegedly Did Not Own
An Oklahoma City man has been arrested and charged after authorities say he tried to file a deed claiming ownership of a $5.4 million home in Gaillardia. The deed was never recorded, but the case is a reminder for homeowners to keep an eye on their property records.
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· WBRE/WYOU (2822news.com)
Monroe County Officials Warn of Fake Vacant Land Listings and Urge Owners to Sign Up for Record Alerts
Monroe County's Recorder of Deeds says her office is getting more calls about fraudulent listings for vacant land. Officials are encouraging property owners to sign up for a free-to-use style notification called Record Alert, which tells them when a document is submitted for recording against their property.
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· Yahoo News
Riverside County Arrests Three in Suspected Property Fraud Case Involving Older Residents
The Riverside County Sheriff's Office arrested three Moreno Valley residents in October after an investigation into suspected real estate fraud involving older residents and people who have died. Detectives identified at least four additional alleged victims before the arrests. Officials encourage homeowners to pay attention to county notices about recorded documents.
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· Michigan House Democrats (housedems.com)
Michigan Lawmakers Introduce Bill Package to Help Deed Fraud Victims Reclaim Homes
Michigan lawmakers, including Rep. Kara Hope and Sen. Sylvia Santana, introduced a four-bill package aimed at helping homeowners who are victims of deed fraud. The legislation is meant to help victims reclaim their property, recover losses and seek justice.
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· Fox News
Home Title Fraud: How to Check Your Property Records and What Monitoring Can and Can't Do
A Fox News report explains that home title fraud is different from an online account hack, and that homeowners can check public records and sign up for free county alerts. It also notes that monitoring services only report changes, and that a "title lock" does not truly lock a deed.
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· KTLA
Ventura County Jury Convicts Man in Attempt to Take $4.8 Million Oxnard Shores Home With False Documents
A Ventura County jury convicted a 34-year-old man of filing a false or forged document in a scheme to take a $4.8 million Oxnard Shores home. Prosecutors said he claimed an ownership interest he did not have and used it in a deed. The case is a reminder of how paperwork can be misused in property fraud.
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· WTIP
Cook County Offers Free Alerts When Documents Are Recorded Against Your Property
Cook County property owners can now sign up for a free Document Alert service that warns them when a document is recorded under their name, legal description, or parcel number. The tool is meant to give early notice of possible deed fraud, which county officials say has not been reported in Cook County but has occurred elsewhere.
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· KCBD
Lubbock County Offers Free Email Alerts When Property Documents Are Recorded Under Your Name
The Lubbock County Clerk's office has launched Fraud Notify, a free service from Tyler Technologies that emails residents when a deed, lien or similar document is recorded under a name they register. Alerts begin from the date of registration, and reviewing the actual documents requires a visit to the clerk's office or buying a copy.
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· Yahoo News
New Jersey Deed Fraud Report Prompts Lawmakers to Advance Three Bills
A report from SCI says deed fraud is increasing in New Jersey, which has the second-highest number of cases in the nation. After the report came out, the Assembly Housing Committee advanced three bills that had previously stalled.
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· HousingWire
States Tighten Deed Theft Rules as Real Estate Fraud Losses Climb
HousingWire reports that real estate fraud complaints and losses rose in 2025, and several states are responding with new deed theft laws. Maryland and Alabama measures took effect at the start of October, and Arizona repealed a provision tied to forged deeds.
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· KXII
Grayson County, Texas Launches Free Property Alerts to Help Residents Spot Suspicious Filings
Grayson County, Texas has introduced a free property alert program called Nuemo that notifies residents when documents matching their name or address are filed. A county commissioner says fraud is hard to catch, and urges residents to sign up before they become a target.
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· Yahoo News
Title Firms Report More Seller Impersonation Fraud, Including Scheme Targeting Phoenix-Area Vacant Homes
Scammers are increasingly posing as homeowners to sell properties they do not own, and title companies say they are seeing it more often. A 2026 industry survey found 59% of title firms encountered an attempt, and one scheme targeted vacant homes in the Phoenix area.
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· NBC10 Philadelphia
Philadelphia Deed Fraud Reports Near Last Year's Total With Months Left in 2026
Philadelphia has received 152 deed fraud reports so far in 2026, close to the 159 filed in all of 2025. NBC10 Philadelphia reports on a woman trying to reclaim her brother's home after it was transferred without her knowledge, and on how homeowners can guard against property theft.
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· Hoodline
Houston Woman, 87, Allegedly Lost Her Home in a $10 Transfer; Two Face Felony Charges
Two people in Houston face felony charges after allegedly using false claims and documents to take an 87-year-old woman's longtime home for $10. The title has reportedly since been returned to her name. The case is a reminder for homeowners to keep an eye on their property records.
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· Yahoo News (local newspaper syndication)
Crawford County Offers Free Alerts When Property Records Change
Crawford County's Register and Recorder Office has launched a free alert system that notifies owners when a document is recorded on their parcel. The office says the tool won't stop fraud but can help owners react quickly if something suspicious is filed.
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· WICZ (FOX 40)
Broome County Officials Urge Homeowners to Guard Against Deed Fraud and Home Title Theft
Local officials and real estate leaders in Broome County are warning property owners about deed fraud, in which scammers use forged or deceptive paperwork to transfer ownership of a property. They encourage owners to watch their land records and sign up for the county's free fraud alert system.
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· Bloomberg Law
Report: AI tools are making deed theft and seller-impersonation fraud easier to carry out
Bloomberg Law reports that AI agents are helping scammers search property records, forge documents and notary stamps, and pose as owners on verification video calls. Seller fraud attempts reported by title insurers have risen sharply, and New York City, long a center of deed theft, has created a dedicated office to address it.
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· KPRC 2 / Click2Houston
Harris County Attorney Warns Houston-Area Homeowners About Deed Theft and Urges Them to Report Suspicious Activity
Harris County Attorney Abbie Kamin is warning homeowners about deed theft, a type of property fraud that can let criminals claim a home without the owner knowing. Her office has filed two major civil lawsuits against nine people accused of working together, and residents can report concerns through the county attorney's website.
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