Brooklyn Civic Group Campaigns To Raise Awareness Of Deed Theft Rackets Targeting Local Homeowners

In Brooklyn, New York, DNAinfo New York reports:

• Neighborhood homeowners are coming together this March to raise awareness about deed theft and property fraud in the community.
  
  The Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant, a civic group aimed at revitalizing the neighborhood, is hosting the event “We Are Our Neighbor’s Keeper” to help educate locals on an issue many say is rampant in the area.
  
  “This is happening way too often and way too easily,” said Brownstoners’ president Lynette Lewis-Rogers.
  
  “It’s frustrating, but we’re hearing from different sources that it is very, very widespread, particularly throughout Bed-Stuy,
  
  “We know they’re in demand, our beautiful brownstones. They’re very desirable, and if you’re not willing to sell, the next thing is for people to be under-handed about it.”
  
  Many affected residents lose their homes after reaching out for assistance, Lewis-Rogers added.
  
  Those facing foreclosure or looking to refinance their property sometimes come across scammers and later find out they signed over the deed to their homes, according to experts.
  
  The March 19 panel was created out of a concern to help residents pass down their properties through generations, Lewis-Rogers said.
  
  It follows a January event from the Brownstoners of Bedford-Stuyvesant in which they discussed the same topic with elected officials and representatives from the State Attorney General, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office and the Bedford-Stuyvesant Real Estate Board.

For more, see Panel To Address Deed Theft and Property Fraud in Bed-Stuy.