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Homeowners: Beware of Deed Scammers!
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July 21, 2023Homeowners: Beware of Deed Scammers!
Protect your property from deed theft and fraud. The deed is the legal document that proves who owns the home. Deed fraud happens when scammers either forge signatures or convince the homeowner to unknowingly sign paperwork that transfers the deed. Some red flags to look for include when a person:
- Asks you to transfer your property rights to them.
- Provides a guarantee or promised result. Legitimate organizations and individuals can only promise to work hard for you. They cannot guarantee results.
- Requests an upfront fee to modify, refinance or reinstate your mortgage.
- Pressures you to sign over the deed to your home or sign any paperwork that you haven’t had a chance to read, and you don’t fully understand.
To learn more on how to protect your home from scammers, visit the New York Department of Financial Services website or download the guide created by the New York Department of State.