Free Republic

New York homeowners and housing advocates say they are staring down a sudden wave of alleged deed theft that has longtime owners, including many seniors, scrambling to hold on to their homes. The spike in cases is putting fresh pressure on prosecutors and city officials to shut down scammers who use forged paperwork and phony short-sale deals to walk off with property titles. State complaints jumped 240% in two years Data obtained by local investigators shows that complaints to the New York Attorney General's Office climbed 240% between 2023 and 2025, a more-than-threefold jump that observers say points to a...

A Philadelphia man allegedly stole 14 houses around the city using fraudulent deeds, according to the District Attorney’s Office. Tyree Burno, 42, has been arrested and charged with assuming ownership of homes located in West Oak Lane, Logan, Frankford, Cedar Brook, and Mt. Airy neighborhoods, either in his own name or using a series of fake names. Such fraud is fueled by a white-hot real estate market, said Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Esack, with the office’s Economic Crimes unit. “Oftentimes, the neighborhoods targeted are ones seen as up-and-coming, where gentrification is prevalent,” she said. The victims, often the elderly, may...