Unlike a wallet, car, or bicycle, one might assume that it would be difficult, if not impossible, to steal a home. Recently, several high-profile incidents of deed theft in New York City have revealed that stealing homes is easier and more common than one might assume. The problem has become so prevalent, in fact, that Brooklyn cultural hub The Black Lady Theatre has declared July 26 - August 2 as Deed Theft Awareness Week with a series of presentations and panel discussions to draw attention to the issue.
This article explains what deed theft is, discusses several recent cases of deed theft, explains how to avoid it, and what to do if you suspect you or someone you know is a potential target of this illegal practice. We also look at circa-Gilded Age townhouses where any robber baron of the time would feel at home.
This article explains what deed theft is, discusses several recent cases of deed theft, explains how to avoid it, and what to do if you suspect you or someone you know is a potential target of this illegal practice. We also look at circa-Gilded Age townhouses where any robber baron of the time would feel at home.
In this article:
The prevalence of deed theft
On June 5, 2025, The New York Times reported on the activities of a local real estate investor who had been found guilty of stealing the deeds to 11 properties in Brooklyn. He had also previously been found guilty of targeting property owners in Queens.
In both cases, he would target owners at risk of foreclosure and promise to arrange a “short sale,” which is a transaction in which banks accept less than what is still owed on one’s mortgage to ensure owners are able to walk away from a sale without the burden of a debt. In this case, the investor wasn’t arranging for a short sale but simply acquiring their properties under a false premise and leaving them to deal with their crushing debts, though now without any assets to help offset the debt burden.
While one might expect such cases to be rare, local headlines reveal that deed theft is shockingly common. In November 2024, Bronx District Attorney Darcel Clark and New York State Attorney General Letitia James announced the arrest of three individuals accused of swindling a Bronx woman out of her lifelong home. In March 2025, four people were charged with using forged signatures and fake documents to acquire properties totaling more than $3 million in Queens.
Deed theft isn’t just something that has been on the rise as both local housing costs and taxes spike. According to the website of New York State Attorney General Letitia James, between 2014 and 2023, the New York City Sheriff’s Office received approximately 3,500 complaints of deed theft, with the majority of the complaints originating in Brooklyn and Queens and often coming from lower-income residents.
Deed theft defined
By definition, deed theft occurs whenever someone illegally transfers a property title without obtaining the consent of the property owner. The two most common methods are forgery and fraud. Deed theft via forgery occurs when a thief fakes a homeowner's signature on a deed and files it with a local county clerk. Deed fraud, which is even more common, occurs when a homeowner signs over their deed to a thief, often under the false premise that the thief is helping them manage a growing home debt.
Who is at risk for deed theft
Anyone can fall prey to deed theft, but some homeowners are more at risk than others for a wide range of reasons. First and foremost, culprits often target homeowners whose homes are at risk of foreclosure. This isn’t surprising because information about homes about to foreclose is readily available in publicly accessible databases that provide pre-foreclosure information (notably, these are the same databases frequently used by lenders to target individuals who may be looking to obtain a secure loan against their property assets).
In addition to targeting owners whose homes are at risk of foreclosure, abandoned or empty properties and properties belonging to recently deceased individuals are also frequently at risk. Demographically, anyone can be the target of deed theft, but as stated on New York State Attorney General James’ website, elderly homeowners and, in New York City, lower-income homeowners, especially in the predominantly Black and Hispanic neighborhoods, are also more likely to be victims of deed theft.
How to avoid deed theft: Recommendations for property owners
There are many precautions owners can take to ensure they don’t fall victim to deed theft.
- If you’re struggling to pay your mortgage on time, be suspicious of too-good-to-be-true offers of assistance.
- If you’re re-negotiating your mortgage, be wary of anyone who asks for upfront fees to modify your loan terms, since this is a highly irregular practice.
- Never transfer ownership of your property to a so-called mortgage assistance company without consulting a real estate attorney, and don’t automatically assume that all real estate attorneys have your best interests in mind. While the vast majority of real estate attorneys do, some deed theft incidents in New York City have been carried out with the assistance of an attorney working for a scammer. As a result, it is always best to seek your own legal counsel. If you can’t afford an attorney or have any other questions, contact New York’s Homeowners Protection Program (HOPP).
- Register on the ACRIS (Automated City Register Information System) website to receive updates whenever there is a recorded change to your deed.
- If you don’t have a will, establish one to ensure your property will not end up in limbo for an extended period of time while a judge determines its rightful owner.
How to avoid deed theft: Recommendations for friends and family of property owners at risk
Although elderly property owners aren’t the only people who fall victim to deed theft, a disproportionate number of deed theft cases do impact elderly residents. Fortunately, there are a number of ways that family and friends can help mitigate the risk of an elderly parent or relative ending up falling prey to deed theft.
- Educate elderly parents and other loved ones about the risks of deed theft.
- Use the ACRIS site to be notified of any legal changes that occur to their property via email or text message.
- On a regular basis, ensure the relative or friend in question is still receiving their property tax and water bills on a regular basis.
- Annually check the status of the property by logging into New York City’s Automated City Register Information System to ensure no one has filed a deed or mortgage on behalf of your family member or friend.
How to report potential deed theft in New York City
If you believe you or someone you know has been victim of a deed theft, report the incident to law enforcement, the Office of the Attorney General of New York State, which has a dedicated email for deed theft (deedtheft@ag.ny.gov), or your local district attorney’s office. Also, seek the help of an attorney or contact HOPP via email or phone to access free counseling and legal assistance.
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Contributing Writer
Cait Etherington
Cait Etherington has over twenty years of experience working as a journalist and communications consultant. Her articles and reviews have been published in newspapers and magazines across the United States and internationally. An experienced financial writer, Cait is committed to exposing the human side of stories about contemporary business, banking and workplace relations. She also enjoys writing about trends, lifestyles and real estate in New York City where she lives with her family in a cozy apartment on the twentieth floor of a Manhattan high rise.
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