Q: I read an article about people using fake deeds and lawsuits to steal people’s homes. It sounded horrible for the victims and is frightening. How can I protect myself? — Clive
A: Real estate title fraud rarely occurs but is devastating when it does. In the type of scam that was recently in the news, a fraudster will record one or more fake deeds in the public records, then file a quiet title action to attempt to sanitize the transfer.
They will use the actual owner’s name in the lawsuit but have an accomplice served with the lawsuit at a different address. The accomplice then either fails to participate or accepts the allegations being brought.
