{"id":63710,"date":"2025-10-17T11:39:27","date_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:39:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=63710"},"modified":"2025-10-17T11:56:03","modified_gmt":"2025-10-17T18:56:03","slug":"buyer-quitclaim-deed-scams","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/buyer-quitclaim-deed-scams\/","title":{"rendered":"Beware of Quitclaim Deed Scams: What Homeowners Need to Know"},"content":{"rendered":"

In Northeast Ohio, Tangie Harris learned that her mother had suddenly sold their family home \u2014 even though her mother had been dead for 11 years<\/a>. Harris and her family became the victims of a growing number of quitclaim deed scams happening across the country.<\/p>\n

In these schemes, fraudsters known as \u201ctitle pirates\u201d forge property transfer documents and quietly file them with a county recorder\u2019s office, stealing homes from under their rightful owners. The FBI and state attorneys general warn that quitclaim deed fraud is on the rise<\/a>, targeting unsuspecting homeowners.<\/p>\n

In this post, we\u2019ll explain what a quitclaim deed is, how scammers exploit it, and the steps you can take to protect your property title from being stolen or misused.<\/p>\n

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What is a quitclaim deed, and why it\u2019s risky<\/h2>\n

A quitclaim deed<\/a> is a simple legal document used to transfer ownership<\/a> of a property from one person to another. Unlike a traditional warranty deed<\/a>, it doesn\u2019t include guarantees that the title is clear or free of liens. Essentially, the person transferring the property (called the grantor) is saying, \u201cI\u2019m giving you whatever ownership I have, if any.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

Quitclaim deeds are perfectly legitimate in certain situations. You might use one to add a spouse to your home\u2019s title, transfer property to a family member, or handle ownership changes after a divorce<\/a>. Because they\u2019re fast and straightforward, they\u2019re also inexpensive to prepare and record.<\/p>\n

That simplicity, though, is exactly what makes them risky. Since quitclaim deeds skip many of the checks and title assurances involved in a traditional real estate transaction, scammers can abuse the process.<\/p>\n

In some counties, it\u2019s as easy as forging a signature and submitting the document with a small recording fee, which can nearly instantly change a property’s apparent ownership in public records.<\/p>\n

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How quitclaim deed scams work<\/h2>\n

In a quitclaim deed scam, the fraudster typically forges the signatures and files a fake deed with your county recorder\u2019s office, transferring your home\u2019s ownership to themselves or someone working with them. Once that false deed is recorded, it can look completely legitimate on paper.<\/p>\n

In most cases, the scammers then quickly sell the homes \u2014 often at under market value \u2014 to turn a quick profit.<\/p>\n

\u201c[The scammers] want to get [the property] in their name and then they find a \u2018buyer\u2019 to give them well under market value,\u201d Brian O\u2019Malley, Cuyahoga County Director of Real Estate Services, told News 5 Cleveland<\/a>.<\/p>\n

He explained that a quitclaim deed scam creates two victims: \u201cYou have the victim who really owns the property and doesn\u2019t know any of this went on, and the victim who just gave up their life savings, thinking they\u2019re now a homeowner.\u201d<\/p>\n

Fake deeds, notaries, and signatures<\/h3>\n

In the case involving the Harris family home in Ohio, even the notary\u2019s signature and stamp on the deed documents appear to have been forged. Notary stamps can be easily purchased online<\/a>, making forgery simpler than many realize.<\/p>\n

Tens of thousands of property transfers come into county recorders’ offices each year, and staff members typically aren\u2019t able to verify the authenticity of signatures or ownership before accepting filings. The fraud can go unnoticed until serious problems surface.<\/p>\n

Homeowners often discover the issue only when they receive a notice about unpaid taxes, find strangers living in their property, or learn from a lender that the home has been refinanced or sold without their consent.<\/p>\n

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Who\u2019s most at risk<\/h2>\n

Anyone can fall victim, but certain properties are more vulnerable. Homes that are owned free and clear, vacant houses, rental properties, or homes belonging to older adults are frequent targets.<\/p>\n

If you live out of state or don\u2019t regularly check your local property records, your home could be especially at risk because you may not notice fraudulent filings right away.<\/p>\n

The FBI\u2019s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) doesn\u2019t have specific statistics for quitclaim deed fraud, but the scheme falls into the real estate crime category. Nationwide, from 2019 through 2023, 58,141 victims reported $1.3 billion in losses relating to real estate fraud.<\/p>\n

All property owners are potential victims<\/h3>\n

Because of widespread risk, the Boston Division of the FBI recently published a warning<\/a> urging landowners and real estate agents to take action to protect themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cFolks across the region are having their roots literally pulled out from under them and are being left with no place to call home,\u201d FBI Special Agent Jodi Cohen said in the press release. \u201cThey\u2019re suffering deeply personal losses that have inflicted a significant financial and emotional toll, including shock, anger, and even embarrassment.\u201d<\/p>\n

These scams prey on the assumption that \u201cit could never happen to me.\u201d But the FBI alert warned that even family members, often the elderly, are being targeted by their own relatives and close associates who convince them to transfer the home into their name for their own financial gain.<\/p>\n

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Common red flags of a house deed scam<\/h2>\n

Fraud involving quitclaim deeds can be difficult to detect early, but there are warning signs that something isn\u2019t right. Law enforcement and the FBI are telling homeowners to stay alert for these red flags:<\/p>\n