Beware of Quitclaim Deed Scams: What Homeowners Need to Know

When Nora Rowland visited her late father’s home in South Carolina, she discovered his former caretaker had transferred the deed to herself for just $5. In Northeast Ohio, Tangie Harris learned that her mother had suddenly sold their family home — even though her mother had been dead for 11 years. Rowland and Harris have become the victims of a growing number of quitclaim deed scams happening across the country. In these schemes, fraudsters known as “title pirates” forge property transfer documents and quietly file them with a county recorder’s office, stealing homes from under their rightful owners. The FBI and state attorneys general warn that quitclaim deed fraud is on the rise, targeting unsuspecting homeowners. In this post, we’ll 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. How Much Is Your Home Worth Now? Home values have rapidly increased in recent years. How much is your current home worth now? Get a ballpark estimate from HomeLight’s free Home Value Estimator. What is a quitclaim deed, and why it’s risky A quitclaim deed is a simple legal document used to transfer ownersh...