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Deed theft occurs when a thief takes control of a homeowner's deed or title to the home without the homeowner's knowledge or consent.

The two most common types deed theft:

1. Forgery: When a thief forges a homeowner's signature on a deed.
2. Fraud: When a thief lies about the contents of what the homeowner is signing, and the homeowner signs their deed over to the thief.

While any homeowner can be a victim, scammers often target:

• Abandoned/empty properties
• Properties in foreclosure
• Properties with tax or utility liens
• Properties owned by deceased homeowners where title has not been legally transferred to the heirs

• Gather relevant documents.
• Consult an attorney experienced in real estate or estate matters.

• Contact an attorney or a free, statewide service.
• Sign up for property and deed alerts so you are notified of changes to property records.
• Conduct yearly reviews to ensure that no deeds or mortgages have been recorded on your property without your consent through ACRIS or the Richmond County Clerk's website.
• Check that the Department of Finance has the correct mailing address for you or the person who receives notices about your property.
• Make a will or transfer-on-death deed to prevent a future dispute of ownership rights.
• When someone inherits a property after a death, update the deed with the new owner's name.