A serious warning from the State of California. Last week the California Department of Real Estate (DRE) issued a warning about property deed scams, which are apparently on the rise thanks to the depressed economic climate. The Consumer Alert that DRE released notified homeowners of a number of red flags that indicate fraud: changes made to a recorded document after signing ("Is that my signature?"), recorded documents signed by a deceased person ("Look - Marilyn Monroe's autograph!"), documents indicating that the a portion of the property was sold without the homeowner's knowledge ("Who's living in our front yard?"), receipt of documents for a mysterious loan or transaction ("We owe how much to who?"), or receipt of a Notice of Default or Trustee's Sale when the property is owned outright ("What happened on the courthouse steps?") are all tip-offs. Seriously, the California DRE encourages homeowners that experience any of the above to notify the County Recorder's Office and their insurance company if their title policy covers forged deeds. It's also worth contacting local law enforcement, as the District Attorney offices in several counties now have real estate fraud divisions, and, if the real estate broker or salesperson is the likely culprit, filing a complaint with DRE itself. Employing an attorney familiar with real estate law is advisable, as they can help with annulling or voiding bogus deeds.
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