Cybercrime Expected To Skyrocket in Coming Years
We still don't have an end to cybercrime attacks. In fact, according to estimates from Statista’s Cybersecurity Outlook, the global cost of cybercrime is expected to surge in the next five years, rising from $8.44 trillion in 2022 to $23.84 trillion by 2027. Attacker techniques are becoming more advanced, with more tools available to help scammers.
3 suspects arrested in $12M real estate property theft ring in Broward County
Three people were in custody and more arrests are likely following a sweeping investigation into a $12 million real estate property theft ring in which the suspects allegedly worked together to steal people's homes. Each of the suspects face charges, including first-degree grand theft and other crimes involving deed fraud, filing fraudulent court filings and identity theft.
They weren’t porch pirates: Theft ring members stole whole houses, authorities say
Three suspects have been charged in what investigators say was an elaborate scheme to steal Broward County properties with fraudulent quit claim deeds, liens and litigation. The value of the 14 homes totals $12.8 million, according to Broward County Property Appraiser Marty Kiar, who oversees a new property crimes investigative unit that broke the case.
Attorney General James Announces Arrests in New York City Deed Theft Ring
New York Attorney General Letitia James today announced the indictment of five members of a deed theft ring. The defendants impersonated the real homeowners of these properties by using forged driver's licenses and social security cards. They then used that forged information at contract signings and closings on the properties and forged the real owners’ signatures on deeds and real estate contracts.
4 Common Real Estate Scams You Should Know About When Buying a House
Buying a home is a big event. It’s something most people spend months or even years saving for and thinking about. It’s usually the culmination of a lot of hard work. In this article, we’ll spend time shedding light on some of the most common real estate scams you should be aware of before, during, and shortly after you buy your home.
Woman charged with exploiting her mom in Florida
Prosecutors say she falsified documents to take control of her mother’s home, took money from her mother’s reverse mortgage and savings account, and took out credit cards in her mother’s name and then used them for her own benefit.
Cybercrimes & Scams Targeting Seniors
Cybercrimes are more prevalent now than ever, but a vast majority still go unreported. That’s because many scams target individuals, especially seniors, for under $1,000. This article explains how to protect yourself or your loved ones against the dangers of elderly scams.
How Online Holiday Shoppers Can Protect Themselves from Cybercriminals
In this article, we’ll help you understand what criminals love about the holiday shopping season, how to recognize common online shopping scams and threats, and the steps you can take to keep your information safe while shopping online.
What is Mortgage Wire Fraud?
Mortgage wire fraud is a costly crime. A successful scheme can cost unsuspecting victims tens of thousands of dollars or more. If you’re in the market for a new home or getting closer to closing on the home of your dreams, spend the next few minutes reading through this article.
Ripple effects of ransomware attack against Suffolk County continue more than a week later
On Sept. 8, the members of the Suffolk County Legislature were given a directive: Shut down your computers. Soon after, a large-scale ransomware attack that has plagued the county began to come into focus. More than 10 days later, county email accounts and web sites remain down as investigators work to identify the source of the attack.
5 Increasingly Prevalent Scams You Should Know About
Cybercriminals are lurking in the shadows, waiting for the next person to fall prey to one of their scams. If you want to prevent yourself from becoming another one of their victims, spend some time reading about five increasingly prevalent types of scams you might encounter in the near future.
Stealing home: Dozens of Arizona houses fraudulently sold without owners’ knowledge
Arizona is seeing a rise in deed fraud schemes in which entire homes are sold out from under the rightful owners. The process for regaining ownership can be long and costly. The main targets are houses without a mortgage that are vacant or used for vacation rentals, and the victims are usually corporations or out-of-state homeowners.
Three LA Homeowners Warn Against Deed Theft After They Allege Properties Were Stolen
Three homeowners in Los Angeles County are warning against deed fraud after they claim a man filed fraudulent deeds on their properties, claiming they all belonged to him. One homeowner said she discovered what happened when she was trying to sell her home and her real estate agent ran a title search to confirm she was the legal owner.
Does a recession lead to more financial fraud?
The World Bank predicts that global growth will slump to 2.9% in 2022 and stay at that level throughout 2023-2024. It and others attribute this recession to the disruption caused by the war on Ukraine. It is useful to think of recession as a factor within the “Fraud Triangle” to help us understand what leads people to commit fraud.
5 Types of Cybercrimes You Need to Know About in 2022
There are dozens of different types of cybercrimes that could impact you, your spouse, or your aging parents. In this article, we’re focusing on five emerging or growing cyber crimes that you need to know about this year.
Criminals using deed fraud, identity theft to steal Arizona homes
Debi Gotlieb knew something was wrong when she could not find her late father’s home on the county assessor’s webpage. Further searching had shown that the house was listed for sale and her father's name was not listed on the title. A simple Google search shows examples of deed fraud taking place all over Arizona.
Is Home Title Lock A Legitimate Service (And Do I Need It)?
You’ve heard and seen the ads, you’ve started doing your own research, but you may still be wondering: Is Home Title Lock a legitimate service and is it something you should be paying for? Home Title Lock is a legitimate service that offers real-time home title monitoring and title protection for homeowners.
Fraudulent Deeds a Real Property Concern in Harris County
In all 50 states, it is required that the transfer of property utilize written documents that contain the title of the document, the owner name, description of the property, the signature of the owner, and notarized. The document goes through so many hands, and because there is no one office or system to take care of the entire document, fraudulent deeds can be created by thieving hands.
Retirement Checklist: How to Plan and Prepare
Retirement isn’t something you should start thinking about when you’re only a few years away. It’s something you need to start planning for from the moment you become an adult and enter the workforce.
The Best Steps You Can Take to Prevent Title Theft
It’s 2022 and the threat of home title theft has not gone away. In this article, we’ll help you understand what home title theft is, shed light on what criminals are really after, and share a handful of specific steps you can take to avoid becoming a victim this year.
The Big List of Cybercrime Statistics
Cybercrime is a global-wide problem that creates serious financial burdens for both individuals and businesses. In this article we share cybercrime statistics that can help put things in perspective for you and resources that will help you protect yourself from becoming a victim.
What's the Difference Between a Deed and a Title?
Becoming more familiar with the ins and outs of homeownership can help you protect yourself, your family members, your property, and the equity you build over time. In this article, we’ll explain the difference between a deed and a title and help you understand why knowing the difference between the two matters.
How Do You Know If You're At Risk for Identity Theft?
In this article, we’re highlighting seven risk factors that make you a more likely target to criminals trying to steal and use your identity. The risk of identity theft has increased dramatically in the past year. The main reason? The pandemic has both forced and encouraged more people to work from home than ever before.
Investing in Rental Properties: What You Need to Know
A rental property, also known as an investment property, is a residential or commercial property that can be rented to others for the purpose of generating an extra source of income. This article will help you understand what rental properties are, the pros and cons of investing in them, how to choose and evaluate a potential property, and what you need to know to be successful.
The 5-Step Checklist for Setting Up a Will
If you have a spouse, children, or other family members that rely on you for support, it’s a good idea to have a will in place that explains what to do with your assets and property in the event of your death. This article will help you understand what a will is, why it’s beneficial to have one, and how to set up a will in five easy steps.
All the Ways You Can Help Your Parents As They Grow Older
If you have a parent who is nearing retirement or getting older in age, you might be feeling the approaching need to step into the role of caregiver. In this article, we’ll share tips and resources to help you help your parents live as comfortably and safely as possible during the final years of their lives.
Phishing: What is It, How to Recognize it, How to Protect Yourself
In 2019, over 100,000 people fell victim to phishing crimes, according to a report on internet crimes published by the FBI. That year, the amount of money lost by victims surpassed $57 million dollars. Phishing is a real crime that can happen to anyone. In this article, we’ll help you understand what phishing is and how to recognize a true phishing attempt.
How to Build Wealth as You Age: a Comprehensive Guide
Building wealth seems like such a daunting task to many, but it doesn’t have to be. These 14 tips can help you get serious about building wealth for yourself, your spouse, and your family as a whole. The earlier you start building wealth for yourself, the better off you will be throughout your life.
Social Security Fraud: What is It And How Do You Protect Yourself?
Social security numbers are meant to be kept private, but people fall victim to social security scams and social security fraud every year. In this article, we’ll help you understand the basics of social security fraud. We’ll share the most common types of social security scams to watch out for, give you tips on how to recognize and protect yourself from fraud and provide you with resources that you can turn to if you fall victim to social security fraud.
How Does Identity Theft Protection Actually Work?
Identity theft protection tools are increasingly popular among a generation of people who are increasingly aware of data security and cybersecurity threats...but what do these tools actually do? In this article, we’ll address this question and more. We’ll also help you understand what identity theft is, how it happens, who is most at risk, and what you can do if you find out that your identity has been stolen.
How Cyber Criminals Steal Your Home Title
There’s a growing threat lurking within the dark corners of the internet. It’s a cybercrime known as home title theft, and if you own any sort of equity in your home, you’re at risk of becoming a victim of what the FBI is now calling one of the fastest-growing white-collar crimes in America. In this article, we’ll explain what home title theft is and why it has become a bigger problem.
How to Protect Your Aging Parents from Cyber Criminals
If you have parents who are nearing the age of retirement, it’s important to take time to help them understand the risks and growing prevalence of cybercrimes in the U.S. Although nearly anyone can become a victim of a cybercrime, seniors above the age of 60 are particularly vulnerable. In fact, it’s estimated that cybercriminals steal approximately $40 billion every year from older adults.
Everything You Need to Know About Home Title Fraud
What exactly is home title fraud and how does it happen? Who is most at risk and what can you do to protect yourself from this new breed of cybercriminals? In this guide, we’ll give you everything you need to know about home title fraud so you can protect yourself and your family against a complex, costly crime that could change your life forever.
The law needs to change - Woman says her property no longer belongs to her after someone filed fraudulent deed
A woman found out her property in a South Memphis neighborhood was no longer in her name after someone reportedly forged her signature and took ownership. Dyson says without her knowledge, someone went to the Shelby County Register of Deeds office in March 2020 and handed over a quit claim deed, which is a fast way to transfer property.
Five charged with deed fraud involving North and West Philly properties
Five people who city prosecutors said Monday had been arrested on charges that they used forged deeds to steal houses. They face counts of fraud, conspiracy, and other offenses in the alleged theft of 11 properties, all but two in North Philadelphia. Most of the allegedly fraudulent transactions were certified by notary Demeshia Harris-Bey, 42, who is also among those charged. Also charged was Harris-Bey’s husband, Robert Harris-Bey, 58; he and his wife are accused in the theft of nine of the properties.
Is home title theft a real thing? You bet it is, and here’s how to protect your property
The Watchdog surveyed the county clerks in Dallas, Denton, Collin and Tarrant counties. I also talked to the company that bombards us with advertising. I have experience covering this. A decade ago, I told the story of Norris Fisher, who stole 170 homes in Tarrant County (some kind of record) before he was shipped off to prison. So yeah, it’s real. Crooks can forge names and use fake notary public seals and change the ownership of your house without you knowing it.
Retired Teacher Evicted from Her Home
There was nothing unusual about Linda - a retired schoolteacher. Nor was there anything unusual about Linda's modest stucco Florida home. She lived a comfortable life on her teacher's pension and her days were rich with grandchildren and church friends. Then one morning Linda was startled awake by Sherriff's deputies pounding on her door.
Deed Fraud: How To Stay Protected From This Growing Trend
Deed fraud isn't a new idea. This problem has been around for decades, most commonly with vacant property and especially involving deceased property owners, but is becoming increasingly popular in blighted areas with a large number of vacant, zombie properties leaving property owners and investors at risk.
Title fraud is on the rise. Here's why it won't stop anytime soon.
When family members of Lycienne Prince Barber were about to sell their dead relative’s two duplexes in Biscayne Park, they made a startling discovery. During the prerequisite title and lien searches on the properties, they found that a 55-year-old man had filed two warranty deeds transferring ownership of the properties to his own name in February and March of this year.
The devastating home theft you’ll never see coming
Cybercrime has soared during the pandemic, with hacks, breaches and scams hitting unprecedented highs. You know hackers are waiting to pounce while you’re working, shopping and spending time online. What you don’t know is that you’re open to a type of theft you’ve probably never heard of: home title fraud.
3 men accused of forging documents to steal, sell houses in Cleveland, Garfield Heights
A Cuyahoga County Grand Jury has indicted three men accused of using forged documents to steal and then attempt to sell houses across Cleveland and Garfield Heights. Dwayne Mitchell, David Garner and Maquis Lomax were charged in a 15-count indictment accusing the men of forgery, tampering with records, grand theft, theft and identity fraud.
Long Island Man Sentenced For Forging Deed In Scheme To Steal $1M Estate
A Long Island man is heading to prison after stealing a vacant brownstone worth more than a million dollars from an elderly former school teacher, authorities announced. Craig Hecht was sentenced this week to a term of one-and-a-half to four-and-a-half years in prison for a deed fraud scheme targeting an 80-year-old Bedford-Stuyvesant homeowner.
Berrien County woman falls victim to title fraud
A woman in Galien, Michigan falling victim to title fraud. She was making payments on a house only to learn it was secretly sold to someone else. She had a legal land contract with a 91-year-old woman who owns the home. Each month Joy made payments so she could one day own the home herself.
Man sentenced to prison for stealing home deed without signing loan
A Florida man was sentenced to prison for trying to steal a new $219,000 home by snatching and filing a signed deed without signing loan documents. A jury convicted him in September of grand theft and filing a false document against real property.
She had no idea her home could be stolen. Then she read her junk mail
Rohina Husseini had no idea someone could steal a house, but the first small clue that the home she owned for nearly a decade was no longer hers was a piece of junk mail that most of us ignore. The Springfield mother said she initially tossed the mortgage refinancing offers that began arriving over the summer in the trash, but one detail bugged her...
What Philly is doing to fight deed fraud
In 2019, homeowners submitted 118 deed fraud reports. At that rate, we will receive about the same number in 2019 as 2018. While we don’t anticipate an increase over 2018, which is encouraging, the numbers remain too high. Statistics don’t tell the whole story. Who are the victims? Deed fraud disproportionately affects people of color and the elderly, often the city’s most vulnerable residents.
Scammer forged documents to steal title of Cleveland home, records say
A man is accused of forging signatures on a quit-claim deed to steal the title of this Cleveland home from a couple who inherited it from a deceased relative, records say. Thompson filed a fraudulent quit-claim deed with the County Recorder’s Office, transferring ownership of the property to himself. The woman who co-owns the home filed an affidavit that says Thompson forged her and her husband’s signatures.
Prison time for Brooklyn man who stole elderly neighbor’s home
Winston Gregory Hall, a 37-year-old from East Flatbush was convicted by a jury on Wednesday in front of Justice Danny Chun of grand larceny and other charges after stealing the house owned by his 84-year-old neighbor by forging a deed and other documents that transferred ownership of the property to a trust.
Man Pleads Not Guilty to Charges in a Mortgage Fraud Scheme Tied to a West Hollywood Resident
A 34-year-old Sherman Oaks man accused of involvement in a Southern California mortgage fraud scheme with West Hollywood resident Patrick Joseph Soria pleaded not guilty Wednesday in an Orange County courtroom to nearly five dozen felony charges.
New Yorker Hotel in court battle with man who claims to own whole building
The New Yorker Hotel is locked in a court battle with a man it says is a shameless freeloader who scored a year rent-free under an obscure legal loophole — and then filed a phony deed to commandeer the entire Midtown building.
Halle Berry Victimized by Man Trying to Steal Her Home
Law enforcement sources tell TMZ ... 59-year-old
Leading U.S. title insurer may have exposed millions of client records
First American Financial Corp., one of the largest U.S. title insurers, may have allowed unauthorized access to more than 885 million records related to mortgage deals going back to 2003, according to a security researcher.
Understanding The First American Financial Data Leak: How Did It Happen?
When a data leak like this occurs, it can be hard to tell just how severe it is. Without question, it's a troubling occurrence and does not inspire confidence in First American's capabilities to protect customer data. What makes it challenging to fully understand how widespread the effect of this leak is the fact that this information simply sat exposed online.
Hack Brief: 885 Million Sensitive Financial Records Exposed Online
Krebs reports that the exposed records included Social Security numbers, driver's license images, bank account numbers and statements, mortgage and tax documents, and wire transaction receipts—an absolute treasure trove for any scammer or identity thief.
Security Gap Leaves 885 Million Mortgage Documents Exposed
First American Financial Corporation, a provider of title insurance, said Friday that it had fixed a vulnerability in its website that exposed 885 million records related to mortgage deals going back 16 years. The vulnerability would have allowed anyone to gain access to Social Security numbers, bank account details, drivers license and mortgage and tax records.
Don’t Get Scammed Out of Your Home
Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney Daniel Kinney says that in the “Home Title Fraud” Scam, the crooks impersonate the homeowner so they can refinance or sell the victim’s property for their own benefit. They first obtain the homeowner’s personal information through identity theft or by stealing mail.
Milton man indicted for Forsyth County forgery accusations
Documents filed in Forsyth County Superior Court on April 8, state that David Potskhveracvili, 50, of Milton has been indicted by a grand jury for two charges of, “unlawful act in connection with registration of title to land” for allegedly forging documents and transferring ownership of two west Forsyth residences to himself by a quit claim deed on Oct. 12, 2017.
After a mass theft of Philly houses, foreign nationals flee the country
After allegedly stealing nearly two dozen properties in Philadelphia, three foreign nationals appear to have fled the country with their profits, the Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office says. Assistant District Attorney Kimberly Esack said the three men stole the houses with forged deeds between April 2017 and June 2018.
Two Long Island men charged with trying to steal homes from lawful owners
Two Long Island men were indicted Thursday on charges of trying to steal two homes from property owners in Brooklyn and Queens, state Attorney General Letitia James said. One of the homes is on 95th Street in Brownsville, Brooklyn; the other is on 138th Avenue in Laurelton, Queens, she said, announcing the duo had been indicted on charges of grand larceny and offering a false instrument for filing.
Philly DA charges Point Breeze man with stealing properties from the dead
Philadelphia District Attorney’s Office has accused a 50-year-old man of using forged deeds and notary stamps to steal six properties in the city’s booming Point Breeze neighborhood. Housing theft has grown as more neighborhoods have gentrified. The city Records Department logged 136 complaints of deed fraud last year, nearly doubling from the previous year.
Stolen Homes: A Philadelphia Housing Scam on the Rise Prompts Crackdown
The NBC10 Investigators take a look at a scam that's targeting Philadelphia property owners. Curtis Simmons still remembers the place his grandfather lived until his death in 2002: a small building he owned in the Graduate Hospital section of Philadelphia that held a modest apartment a garage workshop.
Large breach of mortgage borrowers’ data raises new concerns, questions
A large breach of mortgage data that has exposed the personal financial information of tens of thousands of borrowers raises key consumer questions: What happens to all those disclosures we make after we apply for and obtain a home loan — our tax returns, Social Security numbers, credit card accounts, bank account numbers and detailed summaries of our assets?
Millions of bank loan and mortgage documents have leaked online
A trove of more than 24 million financial and banking documents, representing tens of thousands of loans and mortgages from some of the biggest banks in the U.S., has been found online after a server security lapse. The database wasn’t protected with a password, allowing anyone to access and read the massive cache of documents.
Deed To 85-Year-Old Man's Brooklyn Home Allegedly Stolen By Crooked Caretaker
A man hired to help care for his elderly diabetic neighbor has been indicted for allegedly stealing and trying to sell the senior citizen's East New York home. Jordan Horsford, 29, was indicted on Wednesday on 12 counts, including grand larceny and identity theft.
Kansas legal loophole lets prison lifer file deeds claiming Joyland Amusement Park and a Greyhound Station
A loophole in Kansas law has allowed a murderer serving a life sentence to file bogus deeds, claiming ownership of properties including the defunct Joyland amusement park, the former Greyhound bus station and the Wellness Center veterans home, Sedgwick County officials said. And there’s little anyone can do about it.
Thieves Can Now Nab Your Data in a Few Minutes for a Few Bucks
‘If someone wants to find my Social Security number, it will take them exactly $3 and five minutes,’ a data security specialist said. So much stolen data is available on the dark web, people shouldn’t worry whether their information has been swiped...Every American person should assume all of their data is out there.
Deed Theft Threatens Brooklyn Homeowners, Politicians Say
Hundreds of Brooklynites have been the victims of deed theft and potentially illegal evictions that rob them of their homes, according to local politicians who are demanding a federal investigation. Deed fraud and mortgage foreclosures have reached a crisis moment in Brooklyn. We must do more to ensure that bad actors and government programs are not forcing seniors and low-income residents out of their homes.
Home title fraud: How it's done and how to protect yourself
In 2008 when title theft was still uncommon, the FBI posted a notice about this house stealing scam, telling homeowners what to watch out for. A few years later in 2012, the California Department of Real Estate issued a consumer alert about the rising number of fraudulent property deeds and noted that the county recorder is not responsible...
Phoenix man pleads guilty in real estate scam, claimed title of Phoenix-area homes
A Phoenix man has plead guilty to fraud and money laundering in a real estate scam that involved claiming title to Valley residents' homes. Daniel Barraza Nevarez filed quitclaim deeds illegally transferring ownership in Paradise Valley, Scottsdale and Phoenix homes between November 2017 and February 2018, according to the Arizona Attorney General's Office.
Gilbert man indicted on real estate fraud, cost victims over $6.3 million
Jon Richard Rattray of Gilbert has been indicted for fraud, money laundering, identity theft and forgery. He's suspected of taking out multiple mortgages on metro Phoenix homes to tap their equity and then filing documents to hide the loans. The owner of Hawkeye Real Estate Services LLC would then take out more loans on the homes or sell them to buyers...
A Philadelphia story: Falsely declared dead, home stolen and no one will help
Three years ago, Tonya Bell went to City Hall and discovered that she was dead. And that her house had been stolen. She learned these things when she looked at the deed for a property she owned in Germantown. In the deed, she had been declared dead by a man she had never heard of. He had named himself her sole heir and taken ownership of her house for $1.
Florida Man Pleads Guilty in Mortgage Fraud Scheme
Wifredo A. Ferrer, United States Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, George L. Piro, Special Agent in Charge, Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Miami Field Office, and Drew J. Breakspear, Commissioner, Florida Office of Financial Regulation, announce that Karl Oreste, 56, of Miramar, pled guilty today before U.S. District Judge Robert N. Scola, Jr.,...
More Than $1 Million In Real Estate Stolen from Rightful Owners
Inspectors with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service (USPIS) arrested Norris Lynn Fisher, 62, on a mail fraud charge, announced U.S. Attorney James T. Jacks of the Northern District of Texas. Fisher was arrested at his home in Fort Worth, without incident, and appeared before U.S. Magistrate...
5 Arrested for Housing Scheme Using Adverse Possession
Sandra Elaine Barton, 30, Fresno, California, Christopher Spencer Barton, 31, Fresno, California, Daniel Paul Vedenoff, 29, Fresno, California, Sheldon W. Feigel, 50, Fresno, California, and Craig Merrill Mortensen, Fresno, California, were arrested and charged with 288 felony counts including perjury, filing false court records and preparing false evidence. The five individuals arrested were booked into...
Consumers Warned of Forged and Fraudulent Property Deeds
SACRAMENTO, CA - The California Department of Real Estate (DRE) issued a Consumer Alert last week about the growing number of scams that involve forged or fraudulent property deeds and what consumers can do to protect themselves against such fraud. The DRE is a state department whose mission is to protect the public interests in real estate...
Ringleader of Foreclosure Scam Sentenced to 35 Years in Prison
In 2013, Head was convicted in two jury trials of two conspiracies to commit mail fraud in connection with nationwide "foreclosure rescue" scams. He was also convicted of seven counts of mail fraud. According to evidence presented at trial and at his sentencing hearing, Head was the CEO of a group of brokerage and financial companies in Orange County and Los Angeles County: Head Financial Services, Creative Loans, and others.
County Recorders Can Unwittingly Accept Fraudulent Property Documents
One of the growing concerns for county recorders throughout the United States is the increase in property fraud. To prove the point about how easy it is to perpetrate this kind of property fraud, the Daily News in New York stole the Empire State Building as a prank last December. They did return it.
Felon Behind Lien Scam Gets 10 Years in Colorado Prison
A felon who stuck more than a thousand homeowners in Arizona and California with bogus liens as part of a credit-collection scam has been sentenced to 10 years in prison. How Jeff McCoon ended up behind bars has less to do with the liens he filed than a set of circumstances that took seven years to...
Dirty Deeds: NBC Shows How Loophole Could Cost You Your Home
NBC 5's Lisa Parker gets at the heart of the problem with property and recording fraud: criminals and bad actors abusing the open recording system and a collective sense of honesty on which we all rely. Because homeowner's can't "freeze" their property titles and because County Recorders aren't allowed by law to verify legal claims...