Tag: fraud prevention
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Bad Deeds Shouldn’t Go Unpunished: Fraud Updates From All Over
A quitclaim deed is a useful tool, when created by the right hands and transferred for the right reasons. But in the hands of forgers and swindlers, these instruments harm people. Especially seniors, the families of deceased homeowners, and people who don’t live in their homes. But actually, anyone could be caught up in a…
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Wire Fraud at Closing. Who’s on the Hook?
Over the past three years, wire fraud in home purchases has gone up sharply. Many victims are turning to court to seek damages after losing much of their life savings to the scammers involved. But who can they go after? The bank? An insurer? The title company? The agent? Some of the players (like banks…
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Say the F Word: Real Estate Agents Need to Warn Us About Fraud
No one wants to fall prey to scam artists. Better guidance from real estate agents would be a big help. After all, a staggering fifth of fraudulent money transfer requests pretend to be coming from real estate professionals. So, why aren’t clients getting stronger warnings?
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Stay Informed with Snohomish County’s Recorded Document Notification System
Snohomish County Washington is now offering a valuable service for property owners – the Recorded Document Notification System. This free, voluntary system is designed to alert you whenever a document containing your name or tax parcel number is officially recorded.
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“Unlicensed Appraisal” and Other Stories: How Scam Artists Chase Disaster Victims
After Tropical Storm Hilary blasted the Baja and San Diego regions in mid-August, the Federal Trade Commission urged people to watch for a surge in rip-offs. Opportunists may say they’re performing appraisals, but unless they are licensed appraisers, they lack professional accountability. If they’re improperly doing the work of adjusters, they might be violating state…
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The Quitclaim Deed and Fraudulent Real Estate Transactions
Quitclaim deeds show up commonly in fraudulent real estate transactions. This type of deed fraud can impact elderly people, buyers purchasing real estate from strangers without warranty, renters who are paying someone who is not a legitimate owner, and anyone involved who might buy, sell, or own property. Here, we examine how it happens and…
