Attorney General John M. Formella Urges Real Estate Owners to Be Vigilant Amid Reports of Quitclaim Deed Fraud in New Hampshire

Attorney General John M. Formella urges real estate owners to be vigilant following reports of quitclaim deed fraud in New Hampshire.

Deed fraud occurs when scammers forge documents to fraudulently transfer ownership of real property without the owner’s knowledge. Often, this scam involves forging a quitclaim deed that falsely transfers property ownership to someone other than the rightful owner. The scammers then attempt to record the forged document with the register of deeds in the county where the property is located. If successful, they can cause significant harm by selling the property, taking out a mortgage on it, or renting it for profit, often before the rightful owner is even aware.

While deed fraud can affect anyone, scammers typically target vacant lots, properties without liens, and properties owned by individuals living out of state. They may use fake identification and exploit remote closings, where parties in the transaction never meet in person.

Quitclaim deed fraud can have devastating consequences for unsuspecting property owners. Although it may not be possible to prevent every instance of deed fraud, real estate owners are encouraged to take the following steps to minimize their risk:

• Set up a Google Alert for your property address to monitor any online activity related to your property (https://www.google.com/alerts).

• Regularly check real estate websites like Zillow, Redfin, and Realtor.com to see if your property is listed for sale.

• Search social media platforms such as Facebook for posts about your property.

• Periodically visit your property or ask trusted neighbors to report any suspicious activity.

• Contact your title insurance provider to discuss whether coverage is available for losses related to deed fraud.

If your property has been sold without your knowledge, it is critical to act quickly and seek legal advice. To detect fraud early, consider:

• Monitoring your property records online. Each county has a register of deeds website that allows you to search property records by owner name. These sites are available at https://www.nhdeeds.org/, except for Carroll County, which can be accessed at https://www.carrollcountynhdeeds.gov/.

• Subscribing to property fraud alerts. These services notify you whenever a document is recorded under the names you specify. Most New Hampshire counties offer this service for free through https://www.propertyfraudalert.com/. Check your county’s register of deeds website for details.

• Watching for changes in billing. If you stop receiving water or tax bills, it may mean your property information has been altered.

If you believe you are a victim of quitclaim deed fraud or have questions, please contact the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Hotline at 1-888-468-4454.

For more information, visit the Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Bureau: https://www.doj.nh.gov/citizens/consumer-protection-antitrust-bureau.