Is "House Stealing" a real thing ?
I've been seeing so many commercials which claims 'Home Stealing' is a real thing. They claim it's on the rise for someone to download a fake property document, transferring the title from you, forge your signature, use a fake notary stamp and then go to city hall and record it with the property registrar, and they have their name on the deed of your house.
I know this sounds exaggerated, but curious f this is possible and has it happened to anyone you know - especially elderly people ? Any realtors out there who can shed some light ?
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | October 16, 2025 5:35 AM
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I don't know but "Identity" is one of my favorite episodes from L&O Mothership. An older man has his brownstone stolen out from under him. At the end, he tells McCoy how he was able to track down the man who stole his home.
| by Anonymous | reply 1 | October 15, 2025 1:10 PM
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I know in my city there have been cases of elderly people losing their life-long homes to delinquent property tax sales (which they didn't know they were delinquent in the first place) to buyers who pay off the delinquency and get title to their homes - and then evict the owners. It's horrible and our elected council-people have been trying to pass a law to end this, but City Hall (and the tax collector) is dead set against ending this.
| by Anonymous | reply 2 | October 15, 2025 3:10 PM
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In order for a property transfer to take place, the Recorder of that deed needs to verify that it's a valid transfer. Original signature by existing landowner? Valid notary signature, who is also bonded to act scrupulously? There are checks and balances in place to prevent this kind of fraud.
That said, sometimes it happens. There are many clever crooks out there who are able to get bad notaries to commit illegal acts. I know one situation where the Chinese Mob forged condo deeds, got a notary to stamp/witness it, and then killed the notary. Our law firm was hired to defend the property owner who was defrauded, and we won in court.
| by Anonymous | reply 3 | October 15, 2025 4:33 PM
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R3 Thanks ! So it could happen, but probably not to the degree proposed by 'TitleLock' in the ads ? I guess it's all dependent on how astute the property recorder in a particular town is these days, to check everything and make sure it's all authentic.
| by Anonymous | reply 6 | October 15, 2025 5:02 PM
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It can happen to property owners who dont stay on top of things.
| by Anonymous | reply 7 | October 16, 2025 3:12 AM
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A ploy for another LifeLock type company.
| by Anonymous | reply 8 | October 16, 2025 4:04 AM
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Another reason not to answer your door.
| by Anonymous | reply 9 | October 16, 2025 4:24 AM
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Yes, in Brooklyn. Just one example:
| by Anonymous | reply 10 | October 16, 2025 5:35 AM
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