title theft
Property ownership hijacking
Title theft is a form of real estate fraud where someone forges documents to transfer ownership of property without the legitimate owner's knowledge.
The criminal typically files fraudulent deeds with local authorities, then takes out loans against the stolen property or sells it outright.
Victims often don't discover the theft until they receive foreclosure notices or try to sell: She lost her childhood home to title theft while living abroad.
Also called deed theft or home title fraud.
- deedWritten property conveyance
- fraudIntentional criminal trickery
- forgeryCreating fraudulent imitations
- propertySomething owned or inherent
- scamDishonest money-making scheme
stolen · homeowner · notary · identity · recording · paper trail · mortgage · lien · real estate · impersonation · county clerk · public records · ownership · transfer · free and clear · criminal · victim · equity
title theftburglary
Illegal entry to commit crime
home invasion · robbery · trespassing · vandalism · squatting
title, theft, titles, titled, titling, entitle, entitles, entitled, entitlement