Beware of Deed Theft Scammers. Deed Theft is a Crime!
AG James Takes Action to Protect New Yorkers’ Homes. Deed theft is a growing problem that predominantly targets Black and Brown homeowners, and under New York’s current laws, opportunities for prosecutors to hold deed thieves accountable are limited.
This legislation will provide real and necessary changes to our civil and criminal laws to stop the perpetrators of these crimes and provide the protections and remedies needed to keep people in their homes. …
Beware of Deed Theft Scammers
“At the Senate’s hearings on deed theft last fall, we heard from many homeowners and their families who lost everything to scammers, fueling an exodus of longtime New Yorkers from the communities they’ve lived in for generations,” said State Senator Myrie.
Deed Theft Tactics
Deed theft occurs when someone takes the title, or deed, to another person’s home without the homeowner’s knowledge or approval.
It has become a popular tactic used by scammers to illegally obtain ownership of a property, and disproportionately impacts elderly homeowners and homeowners of color, especially Black and Brown homeowners in gentrifying neighborhoods.
From 2014 to the present, the New York City Sheriff’s Office counted nearly 3,500 complaints of deed theft throughout New York City, with more than 1,500 complaints in Brooklyn and 1,000 from Queens. Deed theft scams are not just limited to New York City.
Throughout the state, District Attorneys in Albany, Erie, Monroe, and Onondaga Counties have reported recent active deed theft complaints.
As part of the legislation, the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services would collect statewide data on deed theft crimes, which will further aid efforts to combat this scam.
The most common ways scammers steal deeds are through forgery or through fraud. In cases that involve forgery, scammers fake the real homeowner’s signature on a deed and file it with the county clerk to make it look like they bought the property.
In cases that involve fraud, homeowners are tricked into unknowingly signing over their homes to a scammer. These thieves then often evict the homeowner and sell the property at a significant profit. Continue reading… Attorney General James Takes Action to Protect New Yorkers’ Homes and Combat Deed Theft
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Resources: Beware of Deed Theft Scammers
Brooklyn Guardianship Attorney
Elder Abuse and Elder Financial Exploitation Statutes
Elder Fraud Prevention Network Development Guide
New York State Attorney General
Last Will and Testament Provisions
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