Metro Atlanta police warning residents of scammers stealing home titles
GWINNETT COUNTY, Ga. - Gwinnett County police are warning residents to be aware of an ongoing real estate scheme targeting empty and rental properties in the area.
Investigators say scammers are forging signatures and using fake IDs to file fraudulent quit claim deeds.
Legitimate quit claim deeds are used to transfer property from one person to another, but officials say these phony deeds are an attempt by the scammers to resell properties they don't own or extort money from the property's lawful rightful owners.
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Police say buyers should be cautious of recent quit claim deeds and conduct a title search before you purchase any property.
Property owners can enroll in a free program known as the Fraud Alert Notification System. With it, officials will send out alerts when deeds, liens, or mortgages are filed on your property.
You can learn more about the program at fans.gsccca.org.
If you suspect that you're a victim of fraud, call the Gwinnett County Police Department at (770) 513-5700.
The Source: Information for this story came from a social media post by the Gwinnett County Police Department and previous FOX 5 reports.