Mount Vernon officials warn about deed theft
Mount Vernon officials say vulnerable homeowners have been targeted by scammers.
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One Westchester city has a serious warning for homeowners. Officials say deed theft is a growing trend that homeowners should know about.
David Fair, a real estate attorney with The Fair Firm, explains what the crime entails.
"Deed theft is exactly what it sounds like. It's stealing someone's home by forgery or fraudulently obtaining the deed and reporting it as if you are the rightful owner," Fair says.
Fair says the crime is easier to pull off than many people think.
That's why Mount Vernon Comptroller Darren Morton says the city is now warning residents about it.
"It was important for us because, one, we recently started to get a bunch of inquiries about notifications that our residents are receiving," Morton says. "In addition to that, we had some instances with that here in Mount Vernon."
Cynthia Goldson, 90, says she knows the scam all too well.
After receiving strange notices about her home, Goldson says she doesn't even know who to trust.
"Especially at my age, what happens is you're a nervous wreck," Goldson says. "I don't know who to see, I don't know who to ask, and they all sound so helpful."
That's why Fair is advising homeowners to check their property records frequently.
"At least once a year. It's actually very simple, you can go on the county clerk's website, and you can see any mortgages or deeds that were recorded on your property," Fair says.
Fair says this step is key because if a property is sold, it could take a while to get it back.
