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By Danielle Antosz
Larry and Dreama Bilby thought their under-construction home in Tampa, Florida, was safe. Although they weren’t living on the property, they monitored it via home security cameras, which is how they noticed two strangers visiting the house. Later, they received a notification from their county clerk’s office about a change to the deed on their home.
Scammers had used a simple method to claim the Bilby home: a fraudulent quitclaim deed, filed at the county clerk’s office for less than a dollar.
“Just like that, your house is stolen. It’s gone,” Larry Bilby told reporters. “It only cost 70 cents and some paperwork.”
The Bilbys’ nightmare is not an isolated incident. Florida prosecutor Michael Lennon reported that Michelle Cherry and Victor Rodriguez targeted several local properties, making multiple trips to the county clerk’s office. Using forged signatures on fraudulent quitclaim deeds, the couple claimed ownership of at least three properties in the Tampa area. Both Cherry and Rodriguez were arrested and charged with conspiracy to commit fraud and are awaiting trial.
A quitclaim deed is a legal document used to quickly transfer ownership of a property from one person to another, releasing a person’s ownership of a property without specifying their rights or interests. Typically, quitclaims are used to transfer properties without a sale, such as when a parent gives the family home to an adult child. Minimal documentation requirements make them appealing to fraudsters looking to claim ownership of properties they have no legal right to.
In cases like the Bilbys’, scammers forge signatures and file these deeds at the county clerk’s office, effectively stealing the home by transferring ownership without consent. This tactic allows the scammer to secure loans against the property or even sell it to unsuspecting buyers.
Real estate fraud is a growing issue, and Florida officials are calling for legal changes to make quitclaim deed fraud more difficult. In the meantime, there are practical steps to protect your property.
The Bilbys credit their county clerk’s property fraud alerts with notifying them of the change in their deed, which allowed officials to catch the fraudsters in action. Check if your local county clerk’s office offers property fraud alerts and set them up to notify you via phone or email if changes are made to your deed.
Keep a close eye on your property. Even if you aren’t living there, security cameras can help you spot suspicious activity. Most fraudsters look for properties they think are abandoned, hoping their crimes go unnoticed.
Fraudsters often gather details from public records and online data, so limit the information you share online. Set up digital delivery for important documents like utility and phone bills, especially if you aren’t living at the property. Fraudsters may steal mail and use that information to further their schemes.
Until stricter regulations are in place to limit this type of fraud, stay vigilant and set up fraud alerts.
Original article: https://moneywise.com/u/real-estate/protect-yourself-from-deed-scams
