The real estate landscape in Georgia has been marred by an undercurrent of fraudulent activity, leading authorities in Metro Atlanta to issue warnings and new laws to come into effect to protect homeowners. FOX 5 Atlanta reports that Gwinnett County police are alerting residents to a scam involving forged signatures and fake IDs used to file phony quit claim deeds. These illegal documents aim to illegally resell properties or extort the owners.
Buyers are advised to be vigilant of recent quit claim deeds and to conduct a title search before any property purchase. Gwinnett County has also introduced a precautionary measure – the Fraud Alert Notification System, which alerts property owners when deeds, liens, or mortgages are filed against their property. Victims of such scams should report to the Gwinnett County Police Department.
Following investigative reports by Atlanta News First in 2024, which brought the alarming trend of deed theft to light, Georgia has enacted House Bill 1292. This new law, which took effect on January 1, tightens notary requirements and electronic filing for deeds to combat property and deed thefts. The bill arose after several metro homeowners became victims of this fraudulent underbelly.
Notably, the law mandates notaries to keep detailed records of their notarizations and enforces the need for IDs during deed filings – a significant change aimed at closing loopholes in the state’s law that facilitated such crimes. "People have been getting away with it and we must stop it," state Rep. Gabe Okoye told Atlanta News First. With increased penalties for forgery, the bill is seen as a beacon of hope for property owners.
To safeguard against potential property fraud, residents can sign up for the Filing Activity Notification System (FANS), which notifies property owners of filings made on their property. This system, though not a preventive measure, serves as an early warning system in cases of unauthorized filings. Robert Elder, Brenda Booth, and Eric Clark are among those cited in the Atlanta News First investigations who suffered from such deeds theft, highlighting the dire necessity for stringent legal frameworks and vigilant personal measures in protecting one's home and property.
