NYC Deed-Theft Scams Put Seniors at Risk as Advocates Urge Governor, Courts to Tighten Oversight
BROOKLYN — Calls are growing for New York State leaders to take a tougher look at how deed-theft cases move through the court system, after advocates and community voices warned that scammers continue to target vulnerable homeowners — particularly older New Yorkers in Central Brooklyn.
In a recent discussion on NY1’s “You Decide with Errol Louis,” participants described deed theft as a persistent form of property fraud in which bad actors attempt to seize a home through questionable paperwork filings and legal maneuvers. The conversation included an appeal to the Governor and the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) to review the training some judges receive, increase oversight in deed-theft proceedings, and investigate whether misconduct or corruption is playing a role in any cases.
One speaker said the system historically made fraud “shockingly easy,” describing how, years ago, someone could go to the city clerk’s office, file a document, and have it presumed valid — creating an immediate dispute over ownership even without meaningful proof. While the speaker acknowledged some safeguards have improved since then, they said serious vulnerabilities appear to remain.
The segment also underscored how scammers often zero in on people least likely to have legal support or familiarity with their rights. The discussion highlighted older homeowners, and specifically pointed to Black New Yorkers — including older Black women — as frequent targets.
To illustrate the pressure victims face, one participant shared a personal story about their grandmother, who suffered a stroke in her early 90s and continued living in her Crown Heights home. Even after her mortgage had been paid off for decades, the family said people still came to her door insisting she needed to “pay off” the mortgage and offering to “help” — tactics described as relentless up to the time she died.
Advocates say the pattern reflects a broader crisis that blends housing insecurity with predatory fraud: persistent door-knocking, misleading claims about liens or mortgages, and legal filings that can escalate into court battles homeowners may not be equipped to fight.
The group’s message was blunt: deed theft is not a niche issue, they said — it’s a long-running problem that requires more attention at the state level, more scrutiny inside the courts, and stronger protections for seniors and longtime homeowners who are being pressured, confused, or outright deceived.
Sources: NYC.gov , Original Video , Big New York news BigNY.com
AG.ny.gov
