New warning about scammers trying to steal your home

[@jujube8067]

It takes minutes to change the owner fraudulently, but it is still ongoing to have it changed back to legal owners? That does not make sense.

[@M_SC]

It fits the pattern of bureaucracy and crime throughout history though

[@RolopIsHere]

Is as if the system is forcing you to take back the property the illegal way... so sad.

[@Sonomacats]

If the criminals can use a Quit Claim Deed to fraudulently transfer the title so easily, why shouldn't the homeowner do the same thing to transfer it back? Or change the law so the County can void the fraudulent Quit Claim Deed?

[@RBzee112]

These frauds are most prevalent in Texas and Florida.

[@bluracer766]

Just saw a Forensic Files where a guy was about 15 years old and he premeditatedly walked up to a friend's parent and fatally shot him or her point blank in the back and did 6 months and he was out. He committed murders again until finally being locked up for good. Makes you almost ashamed to be a citizen of this country.

[@pablohassan6897]

5 minutes to commit fraud, 5 months to remedy it. Ridiculous

[@CatWhiskering]

The rightful homeowners should be able to use Stand Your Ground laws to take care of the problem in five minutes, too.

[@gabrielarazo7769]

True!!..So sickening 🤬🤬🤬🤬

[@akui88]

plus thousands in lawyers fees!

[@pablohassan6897]

@@CatWhiskering agreed 💯%

[@VB-lc4xz]

Yes!!! 280 years in prison is just right!!

[@leslieleslie6590]

I'm so glad they were arrested and put on TV.

[@logantrimble006]

They deserve a closeup.😂

[@MrMustangrick]

Deport

[@fpgaguy]

they should go to gitmo and share a cell block with trump

[@darkeyeze]

@@fpgaguyToo late, Trump is going to put them in charge of HUD now.

[@joralemonvirgincreche]

Instead of the county clerk sending you an alert after the title has already been transferred - how about an alert before it transfers?? Something like, "We received paperwork to initiate a title transfer, was this you, is this accurate?" Sheesh.

[@sukaynaalyraza3973]

If they care that much.

[@sambistabeauty]

Exactly. Like the DMV. We can't do crap until after your life turned into a disaster

[@TheTruthseeker707]

That makes too much sense so thats a no go.

[@HoneyTone-TheSearchContinues]

For crying out loud, what kind of government check up do you think is going to stop deliberate fraud? How much more interference do you want by the government in your life? Most states have rules that if a deed (any deed: quit claim, grant, warranty) is presented for recording that meets the requirements ( e.g., original signatures, notarization, proper description, etc.,) it must be recorded. What kind of delay do you want and for how long? What government clerk is going to be responsible for deciding when they have heard from the “real” owners? Some crimes can’t be prevented as a practical matter, they can only be prosecuted and punished.

[@caloricIntake22]

You literally have to connect dots for ppl sometimes like WHY is the alert after smh

[@Latinart]

Those two idiots stealing property are pure trash. Shame on the broken system that allowed these thieves to steal homes.

[@Sonomacats]

Hopefully this will change the law to make something like this more difficult. Much like squatters who used to be able to break into a home and then say it's theirs and the homeowner would have to jump thru hoops and evict them before they could get their home back. Now the squatters get arrested and removed quickly.

[@Latinart]

Your right and hope the system gets fixed to stop victimizing home owners.

[@akui88]

it's stupid easy, and it is happening all across the united states, in some places you don't even need to go into the county clerks office, everything can be submitted online. LAWS need to change.

[@mrich9654]

They’ll do federal time. Absolute trash!

[@Gen-yh1jz]

Yup I was going to say the same exact thing, Trash!

[@wattosdeal]

why can criminals spend 70 cents and some paperwork to claim a home but the actual owners have to spend lots of money on lawyers to get it back in their name?

[@healthyhabits3406]

It’s takes crazy time to get a property

[@katietrotter9374]

@@healthyhabits3406how long did it take the criminals?

[@videoettaceo8900]

Not to mention to buy it in the first place. Capital punishment!

[@yelinmanu7204]

Good question

[@KomericanMom]

That is why I am confused. When I bought my house, there was a property lawyer and signed endless papers. How is this possible? Government should check their process.

[@redMaple_QC]

What about changing the law instead of putting the burden on the owners?

[@DrSevTalksMoney]

Exactly!

[@jacquelinelam3022]

Yes. Strange law to let the scammers to steal property from normal people.

[@amyk87]

That would require our government to actually work FOR us, not against us.

[@thewebdiva5903]

Notification is too late. The change needed is for these offices to require IDENTIFICATION to change a deed. It’s ridiculous that deed changes are allowed without proper identification and on the spot! If you’re going to notify the owners, make the transaction occur over three business days to allow the true owner to stop the scammers. It’s harder to get a driver’s license than to steal someone’s house.

[@ava.artemis]

100%, that’s what I was thinking. There should be notification before the transfer takes place.

[@patentexperts1675]

Yes, there needs to be a delay on the property transfer and the current owner must appear in person or by attorney.

[@EdwardJones-i1z]

The law here is designed to make more confusions so judges and lawyers can earn a living.

[@travelnomad2128]

One need a deed of sale or a title endorsed by the previous owner to register a vehicle with dmv!! How come vehicle ownership has more protection than a house?!!

[@jgesselberty]

Right. When these thieves present paperwork, nothing should be done until the owner is notified and has a chance to respond.

[@MMCat7732]

Doesn’t make sense that changing the deed is easier than getting a library card.

[@dPachArt8]

Yup, for library card you need ID and address proof if not you get a temporary one use paper

[@alipetuniashow]

Right!!!

[@rog3129]

Put them in prison

[@adamhuffman3354]

Yea they are! I’ve always admired the cameras at the clerks office.

[@2musicSoundtrackfandom579]

And then deport them back to the country they came from.

[@itsablessingbeinganamerica1401]

Immediately

[@logantrimble006]

​@adamhuffman3354 yeah, I guess you could consider them stupid criminals. Because they didn't count on that.

[@dianemasterson2132]

They're making prisons better because their civil rights are being violated.

[@Denvermorgan2000]

They need to make these scammers pay for the legal cost of fixing what they did.

[@MeltingRubberZ28]

There should be a way to freeze your deed like your credit score and to unfreeze there is a week delay with the owners being notified.

[@greenbyrd3665]

Excellent idea!

[@OnlyOneTruth25]

If that’s the case, you’d better have a will stating another person who can unfreeze it.

[@MeltingRubberZ28]

@hygqueensav if you own a house, you should have a will. Plus even if you died without one your next of kin would end up taking the place after it went thru court.

[@OnlyOneTruth25]

@@MeltingRubberZ28 I’m aware of this and I do, but you’d be surprised at the amount of people who do not have a will. Then it goes to probate and can drag out and get complicated.

[@SteveSabbai]

Automatic 10 years in jail for stealing or trying to steal someone's property. Trying to restore the rightful owner's name on their property should be free. If there is a fee it should be paid by the county since it was them that allowed such an easy process that allowed the theft. Silly Humans.

[@l.c.3150]

Up to 285 years for stealing property but some people get as little as 7 years for killing somebody. I don’t understand.

[@travelnomad2128]

Yes the county should pay the fees, maybe that will make them care about giving away people's houses through incompetence!!

[@rschier1]

@@l.c.3150 Should be 285 years for either offense.

[@PyroShields]

@@rschier1 Not enough prisons for "either" offense.. Pick one, it can't be both.

[@stenapproved7684]

285 years seems fair

[@JohnDoe-pk2hs]

From down here it seems kinda light actually.

[@DorasBliss]

💯

[@DEE-o4v]

No it doesn't....350 sounds BETTER.

[@thebatmanbadass30000]

How tho?! I know killers that were sentenced for less lol that’s a bizarre thing. Don’t get me wrong screw those people but idk child offenders get less maybe we not doing this right lol

[@Santouryu3]

At least they have a new home in prison for 285 years. xD

[@blakeaaron5698]

You don’t need IDs to verify your signatures?

[@Sonomacats]

They would have IDs to verify their signatures. But I would think that the document would have to be notarized and that would require an ID of the supposed "sellers". And that would be hard to fake. I don't know how Florida does its Quit Claim Deeds, but most states do require them to be notarized which gives a form of protection unless the criminals have a sophisticated setup where they get IDs to match whatever name they want to impersonate.

[@akui88]

all you have to do is file a piece of paper and you have just stolen a house. sure you need to forge a signature and get your hands on a notary stamp, but it's stupid easy to take claim to someone else's property. it should be harder, to transfer property that is worth hundred of thousand of $.

[@JohnDoe-td3xx]

Title insurance

[@kellywolffis5916]

The owner and new owner should be present when signing over with ID..not rocket science.

[@rxdxpxel]

@@Sonomacats There are incompetent notaries out there. Even if the document is notarizes, the lenders or title insurance don't care if it because they don't check. I know because I'm a victim as well.

[@jihanjude6634]

Sad that the homeowners now have to fight to get their names back on the deeds in a longer legal process than it was for the criminals to steal it at the clerk's office. Again, the legislature needs to start working for Floridians or be voted out.

[@reach4thestars67]

Sue the county, state & local governments for not doing their due diligence.

[@MultiKingsfan]

If institutions could get sued every time scammers steal your money, everyone would go bankrupt.

[@meldosify1085]

Then your tax dollars would pay for the lawsuit… So you’d be charging yourself to pay for the lawsuit you brought on…

[@kyliefire5008]

The government needs to do something. There should be absolutely no way this can happen.

[@Sonomacats]

They are changing the laws to prevent this kind of thing from happening. My guess is that this is something that hasn't cropped up much there before, so they wouldn't know.

[@aslkdjfzxcv9779]

yes, the source of the problem needs to do something

[@jakelansing]

THAT QUICK DEED FORM SHOULD BE OUTLAWED

[@Sonomacats]

No. It's appropriate in certain circumstances. The problem is changing the law to require certain forms of ID (like a passport) that isn't so easy to fake.

[@lkd06]

it's QUIT Claim

[@straightshooter5796]

In Thailand, both current and new owners must appear in person at the Land Bureau to do the exchange. This eliminates what happened here. Time for U.S. laws to demand this as well.

[@bobammie116]

That lady clutched her pearls asking, “You have a warrant?” Play stupid games, win stupid prizes.

[@captainKbobkeeshan]

the acting award goes to.... $cumbag scammer #1

[@MMMC-z8y]

Yeah, her level of arrogance is astounding. Glad she’s caught and exposed.

[@elusivelectron]

I'm glad to hear 285 years, but how do murderers get less time than 285 years?

[@salciprez9977]

Let's hope they get the full 285 years.

[@design6282]

Crazy right. P Diddy does demonic things to people and he has a fighting chance. This couple forge paperwork and get 285 years.

[@douglasteachout1958]

Should be automatic.

[@Hippy2021]

​@@douglasteachout1958 They won't. Barely people can live over 100

[@EpicRainbowLollipop]

​@@Hippy2021skill issue

[@Johnny-t2s3r]

Sue the people that work for the system

[@dantheman6607]

Why that’s the current law, don’t like it? Vote the Republicans out of Florida

[@NexxuSix]

Someone please enlighten me as to why it would take lawyers, and many months to reverse fraudulent paperwork. IMHO, it is null and void, and should be treated as if it never happened. Also, I would think the Clerks Office should have better screening processes to stop any of this before it even happens. Yes, the alert notification is a good start, but this needs a serious approach to prevent this type of scam. 285 years isn’t even enough…

[@meldosify1085]

How do you prove it’s fraud? That’s why it’s taking months. It’s your word against theirs. It sucks though.

[@noragarcia252]

This can also happen within the family especially when a parent has dementia and one of the siblings has the parent sign documents without other siblings knowing.

[@donmunro144]

Right. A friend of mine, father in law passed away. Her brother had a realtor list the house before the funeral arrangements were made. And then he can't understand why the family is upset.

[@tammiep9628]

This is so ridiculous, that these people have to pay and jump through hoops to get their names back on the homeowner deeds. Maybe they need to go to this quick deed transfer and transfer their name back into the deed. For the county or state to put them through this is ridiculous. I would be suing..

[@Gonefishing6572]

😂I just love how she asks" do you have a warrant ?" She placed her hand to her chest and at that moment she realized she was fudged. 😂😂😂

[@lilycalir6515]

I think nothing phases this pos. It’s an act

[@captainKbobkeeshan]

@@lilycalir6515 it was so fake. the OMG, me act

[@limitone9564]

All states should have a 60 day waiting period for it to be changed to new names... what the heck!

[@CGriffinGo]

Stealing a home is that easy, eh? And, I've been working my butt off for years?

[@lilycalir6515]

Lol

[@houseandhobby6971]

The fraud alert happens the moment AFTER the transaction is done? How 'bout before? And how about putting some decent checks and balances in place so there is no window for this to happen?

[@Floratic]

This has been rampant for years! It's just of last year I've been seeing news stations notify the public of this scam. The alert helps you know that someone just stole the deed to your home, but it doesn't prevent the theft. They need safeguards in place to prevent theft.

[@yvonnecooper5004]

Yes before not after.

[@amestoy1418]

County should be sued for allowing these fraud to happen, they should be accountable for their actions too.

[@lolomorr6563]

Laws need to be changed to protect owners!

[@donlye7698]

The county should pay all the legal fees and hold accountable for easily letting criminals to criminalize the citizens’ property

[@MultiKingsfan]

Should banks be required to refund scam victims too? Or are you just one of those government bad idiots? Lol.

[@go818win]

Counties in US always have exorbitant regulations but amazingly one important element not covered … protection of ownership.

[@martinsanchezdiaz5619]

Give them 30 years in prison

[@aspiretobe...4014]

Up to 285 years.

[@BallardBaller]

This is deserving of the 25 cent solution

[@obamahussain]

​@@BallardBalleryou can never let your guard down when around black activities

[@tonycruise]

30 year variable rate mortgate on the home and make them pay for the new home x)

[@jtomtl]

300 years

[@erinhewitt1269]

This is the craziest thing that I ever heard. It’s 100% the counties fault . They should of make a change of the system. It’s ridiculous that the owner has to spend their money to hire a lawyer to take a legal action.

[@dcrewakds]

Can the law be changed to have both parties present IN PERSON in order to do a quitclaim deed?

[@FVWhimsy2010]

Seller and buyer should have to transfer the real estate in person, with identification and documentation. Problem solved.

[@gingersoares1995]

But isn't it to late when you get the notification that the deed has been changed?

[@nevastrong2850]

Yes

[@lizhall2961]

The state and city should protect their citizens better.

[@o4saken1]

The system in place should have its own safeguards!!!

[@ElusiveMackerel]

This happened recently in North Carolina where a woman was trying to illegally obtain a $4 million property that a person was already living in right from under his nose. There needs to be a safeguard to protect against this.

[@justinsiemonsma1193]

How can you steal a property without the owners signature? If the bank tells me they gave a loan against my property, I would say show me my signature. Not my signature. Bank did not do due diligence.

[@aeone1619]

They forged the signatures. Meaning they copied it exactly as the original signature.

[@koda3967]

@@aeone1619*FORGED* Not legit signatures; copied; bank did not do due diligence.

[@Chefbiggfluff]

Send a alert to the homeowner… smh

[@justmee9441]

IMO when there is irreputable videographic evidenc, illegal paperwork and the suspects claim NOT GUILTY : the sentences DOUBLE. Stop wasting the courts time with your shenanigans.

[@teresamcnulty8471]

Why have there been no legislations to prevent or quickly correct this??!!

[@melissavargas2584]

What about the mail being stolen??? Federal offense!

[@Briwnee]

This country has become a complete joke

[@aaronn5933]

Just heard about the same thing happening to a couple in Wake County North Carolina. So this scam seems to be on the rise. Scary stuff. Seems our local clerks/title and deeds offices need to revamp some of their procedures.

[@marcedwards7110]

Oh, what a relief. An alert AFTER your property has been transferred. And then YOU get to spend thousands, and tons of leg work, to get your name BACK on your property. Why can’t it be just as difficult to get your name off the property as they make it to get it back on?

[@savingmoney5604]

Insane so sad. Can't believe the clerks offices are not even vetting people who are doing this.

[@leibmoshe]

I find it interesting that the government allows a quick deed process that costs 70 cents, but massive legal fees, time and stress to get your property back…once its shown to be a scam and suspects arrests, those properties should be immediately returned to the rightful owners without any delay or costs incurred

[@rileymcphee9429]

And we wonder why people are so scared of strangers wandering onto their property

[@kevinl20082008]

Why the government make it so easy. It's the government's fault that home owners have to go through this hassle.

[@MikeCee7]

You should be able to sue your county courthouse if that happens to you. It shouldn’t be that easy, with just one signature someone can steal your whole home.

[@BuhodePiedra]

In order to execute a quit claim deed you need a public notary with thumb prints and all parties signing said transfer of deed. Soooo.. how is anybody being duped? Is the county registrar not requiring deed transfers to be notarized??

[@techwhipped]

This is a dangerous loophole that needs to be patched instantly this scam been around for several years an starting to grow I don't get how we got to provide all this other personal information when we wanted get our license renewed, get an apartment, and get a replacement birth certificate or Social Card yet a scammer can take over the deed of your house without the scammer having to verify any other documents showing you sign over the deed they can just walk to the county clerk office provide fake papers an everything is good to go for them that doesn't make sense.

[@harleyv1969]

Sue YOUR COUNTY

[@kbrown5218]

Fake notary's. Forged signatures. The cure? Stop online forms. Then hire a lawyer to handle the paperwork. Laws need to be made that require title companies to work with lawyers and to hand deliver paperwork to the county for filing.

[@thewebdiva5903]

I understand the so called ‘notaries’ are either fooled or in cahoots with the scammers.

[@VertigoGirl-g1o]

It's also way too easy to become a notary

[@ericthecyclist]

In Canada, you can get a second title document from the land titles office. The property can't be transferred or a mortgage put on that property until that document is returned to the land title office. At least in theory; in practice, it gives the homeowner the ability to point the middle finger (at the land title office or bank) and say, "it was obviously your failure for not checking for the second title document, hence go away and don't bother me."

[@Captain-Cosmo]

My home was taken in a scam, too. Six years ago and still fighting. What's taking so long? Well, the crooks had enlisted the assistance of a not-terribly-ethical attorney who didn't ask too many questions. The court proceedings were bizarre. Later, we learned that the judge had been duped by the attorney's efforts, but decided to go along with it rather than face the humiliation of exposure. When we finally confronted the court with the fraud being perpetrated upon it, the judge suddenly "retired" in the middle of his term, presumably so that his own crimes (yes, crimes, because of being part of a conspiracy to fraudulently convey a property) would not result in him being removed from the bench and losing his retirement. Fortunately, fraud upon the court, though rare, offers no immunity for a judge. Today, the scammer is long gone and there is likely no way to hold him accountable. Instead, our relief will have to come from those officers of the court who made it possible.

[@adamowen6226]

Sue the authorities as well.

[@kathleenbrown1395]

It takes mountains of paperwork to get a house legally and close the deal, jumping through endless hoops. These jerks can steal your home in mere minutes. 😢

[@abgolf1566]

They need to do something about it!

[@shmoo-00000]

Well, the suspects got themselves a new home. For up to 285 years.

[@Gingercat224]

All right. The best comment yet 🤣 😻

[@lkd06]

at taxpayer expense...yay

[@TrainerAQ]

Thanks for the heads up!

[@sassyempress7916]

So the government needs to do some to protect homeowners.

[@harleyv1969]

LIFE IN PRISON!

[@mocheen4837]

Please toss the two scammers in prison for life.

[@GoodlifeInvestor]

Should the state be sued for the delay?

[@rickiesmith413]

This is what the government ( our mayors, representatives etc.) should be fighting for. Protect the hard working home owners.

[@opinionmatters7119]

Wow. These people need to be in jail for a long long time.

[@gatorc17]

America, are yall proud?

[@ceoa]

How dare they! Sign up for alerts!!

[@jihanjude6634]

Why is this happening so much in Florida? The legislature needs to stop sleeping and see that homeownership in Florida is in jeopardy. If it's not HOA fees, homeowner's insurance companies leaving, now we have title thieves. Wake up and protect people actually pay property taxes.

[@MeltingRubberZ28]

It's happening in every state

[@stevenpike7857]

Politicians need to STEP THE FUDGE UP and solve this NOW!!

[@bobtaylor3945]

I’m glad the suspects got caught

[@Artsells980]

They need to do more to protect people. The laws need to be changed quickly.

[@KimsLantern]

There’s a special place in Hell for scammers.

[@matchpoint14]

Dang thieves! Keep your hands off our stuff!!

[@adriansandoval5078]

The way she put her hand on her chest when they told her they had a warrant for her arrest… 😂😂😂😂😂

[@carmimoultrie1448]

Problematic is an understatement. Glad the perpetrators were arrested.

[@miabhlub63]

Scary!

[@chrisvan9430]

If it costs 72 cents to steal it, why is it more to get it back? And if the system is that broken, the county registrar of deeds needs to be held liable for the cost

[@xgearheart8592]

This is obviously illegal... But keep in mind HOA's "legally" can get you kicked out of your property and there's currently no legal recourse.

[@listenquitely2888]

Criminals can do a quick deed, and own something that is not theirs while the actual homeowners have to pay thousands and wait forever to get their property back? Make that make sense.

[@Manohman-fx2jq]

Hope they prosecute these thief’s. This should be a federal offense.

[@Freese1]

Yep.. in all 50 states.. it's getting bad

[@OpenRoader]

Wood Chipper!

[@katelyncollins9330]

Theft is insane. It's just so wrong to take from people especially something SO SPECIAL and expensive. I get little things taken all the time but this would absolutely ruin me mentally and financially.

[@briannastultz1468]

I find it insane that people who were caught red handed still claim they are innocent

[@ricomajestic]

Should be a 25 year prison sentence automatically!

[@nelsonshum6721]

Put them in jail for long time!!!

[@roseliamandujano1126]

This is so horrible!!!!!

[@chathurdikaj]

Broken systems

[@randysummerhays4168]

A minimum of 10 years behind bars would be very nice without the possibility of parole

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

It seems insanely simple to PREVENT this from happening in the first place. Why are various states dragging their knuckles on this! How have they not enacted changes to make it much hard on these fraudsters to steal other peoples homes? The problem's not going to go away. We hear about it more and more often. What a nightmare for the (real) homeowners. Months and months of legal costs and stress!

[@1WHATSUP1]

decades in prison and a stupid procedure.

[@citticat2]

Some woman got chummy with my elderly ex and tried to get him to quick-deed his house over to her. English is his second language and when he realized something wasn't right he almost had a heart attack. Luckily my son went down to the office to report her only to find out she had tried this tactic with a few other men. When the govt is allowing this kind of fraud to happen so easily and letting these criminals off the hook -- that is criminal too.

[@ToddMichaelPost]

I’ve seen several stories about this nationwide. In each case, it’s easy for these criminals to get the deed changed but difficult for the actual owners to have it changed back. Why is that?

[@Abandoned-Finds]

THROW AWAY THE KEY!