Detroit Area Law Enforcement Targeting Deed Theft With Dedicated Units

The Wayne County Deed Fraud Unit has made arrests in two new cases involving a deed scam where homes are sold right out from under the real owners without them knowing about it. The announcement, made yesterday by Wayne County Prosecutor Kym Worthy, is reported by Click On Detroit at ClickOnDetroit.com.

Reportedly, over 100 homeowners in Wayne County have been targeted in this scam where forged documents purporting to transfer title from the true owner to a scammer are recorded with the county's office for recording land records since 2005. These forged records are then used to defraud mortgage lenders out of the loan proceeds from subsequent phony realty transactions. Typically, the true owners only become aware of the scam when they begin receiving collection and legal notices from the mortgage lenders who were duped into making the loans.

Wayne County Sheriffs Office currently has three full time deputies assigned to combat deed fraud, according to Sheriff Warren C. Evans. Victims (and those who know victims) of deed fraud are encouraged to report the incidents to the Wayne County Prosecutor's Office Deed Fraud Hotline at 313-224-5869. To read the article, see New Arrests Made In Deed Scam.

To read of deed theft by forgery problems in the Philadelphia, Pennsylvania area, see:

• PA. Gov, House Speaker, Philly Mayor Homes "Stolen" ? (link to TV News report),
• Family Friend Pleads Guilty to "Equity" Scamming Disabled Philadelphia Family,
• Pennsylvania Prosecutor's Office Obtains Guilty Plea Against Home Thief.

To read of a Boston area woman who almost had her home sold from underneath her, see: Boston Cops, Feds Sting Alleged Home Thieves.

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