Beware of 'title pirates' in for Central Texas landowners

Beware of 'title pirates' in for Central Texas landowners | FOX 7 Austin

Рет қаралды 239,050

Ай бұрын

A scam targeting landowners appears to be happening in the Austin area. The scammers are called 'title pirates' and are targeting landowners.
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Пікірлер: 259

@davidfreeland4368 Ай бұрын

Remind me why we pay for 'Title Insurance'. Isn't the Title Co. supposed to be on the hook for verifying all the parties are who they say they are?

@Hybridog Ай бұрын

It's another example of how so many people are trying to "game" every rule, law, system and norm that we have had for centuries. No one wants to "play by the rules" any longer. It seems we need to restructure any number of laws and regulations to ensure they function as intended and cannot be easily "hacked" by the unethical.

@joelewis5187 Ай бұрын

They are hiding in the title companies. That how they get you information. They are working with the scammers. They usually have people at the court house too. You will find they all go to same religious organization.

@robertgrays8790 Ай бұрын

They are liable if they didn't do their checks properly with the information provided by the government. If the government provides fraudulent documentation they can claim they're not responsible.

@zeroshepard9513 Ай бұрын

They are. You wanted small government and to privatize everything. Now you have half rate businesses with no government oversight. Did you think people out to make money have your best interest? Your government only cares about making pregnancy a risk to life. They dont care what businesses do to anyone else.

@brianm4178 Ай бұрын

Yes but corporate America gives them all the passes. Yhe passes end up woth the shit in the homeowners hands

@Irene94087 Ай бұрын

Title companies should be held responsible for

@Hybridog Ай бұрын

Our perceptions of what title companies are for may be wrong. I have my doubts that they could in any way be held responsible for this sort of scam. Most likely, the law does not require them to ensure they are dealing with actual owners. Not surprising since so many Texas laws favor corporations and not ordinary citizens. It would be a pretty easy fix for our lame state gov to implement. Texas legislature - best money can buy.

@joltjolt5060 Ай бұрын

@@Hybridogthey're liable.

@Eman-vp5wk Ай бұрын

@@Hybridog do you know how stupid that sounds?

@insethurdle88 Ай бұрын

@@HybridogHere's an example of an idiot in the wild. Clearly you don't know anything about what you're talking about and don't even know what a title company is Going to blame big corporations for something that's not true and also out of their control....cope harder

@thedeafcattledog8608 Ай бұрын

@@Hybridog lol you have no clue what you’re talking about. Go blow smoke somewhere else, and if you hate this state so much, don’t let the door hit ya where the good Lord split ya.

@westwithers3818 Ай бұрын

Now that’s a great realtor. He actually did his due diligence.

@user-ln7of9gs4s Ай бұрын

Finger prints required, do not accept notary signatures because they can be fraudulent. This needs to stop. Lawmakers need to do something.

@swallowedinthesea11 Ай бұрын

We need to do something to get the lawmakers to do something worthy.

@user-iy1vo2jf2q Ай бұрын

tachnically signatures are legal especially from a Federal Notary, butwithout a Title Search, and nowdays a camera proof of the transaction, youll prolly get screwed. Ever since Covid, the scammers are THICK. And it doesnt help with law enforcement defunded, and judges letting people walk away from cimes.. Its the end result of the leftist agenda, pretty obvious.

@mjay512 Ай бұрын

Generally in CA Notaries require thumbprints.

@user-ky2sy9lt4l Ай бұрын

Sue the Title companies.

@insethurdle88 Ай бұрын

Title policy insurance

@chrisbaker963 Ай бұрын

Seriously, how is this a problem? If a title company proceeds and it turns out to be fraudulent. They should be help responsible.

@AlexPatterson-co4gh Ай бұрын

Title companies write hundred thousand dollar checks to re-election campaigns. That is why laws don't hold them responsible.

@user-iy1vo2jf2q Ай бұрын

Theyre walking away liability for doing bare minimum homework, its pretty simple. The MAJORITY of Tital Companies are ran by Lawyers also. So they sue you for free.

@brianm4178 Ай бұрын

@@user-iy1vo2jf2qcorporate America, the land of business. Certainly not the brave...

@insethurdle88 Ай бұрын

@@user-iy1vo2jf2qThat's not how that works

@insethurdle88 Ай бұрын

This is what title policy insurance is for

@JohnSmith-nj4zq Ай бұрын

Scammers should get all of their assets taken away and let them work in a labor camp for 10 years.

@Omar_Zazzle Ай бұрын

Just deport them to North Korea.

@johnnichols2710 Ай бұрын

Amen

@bryanx5829 Ай бұрын

Make them fight in the hunger games.

@karenwhite4461 Ай бұрын

We're not Nazis. We don't do labor camps. Well, unless you own private prisons. I agree with selling some of their assets to pay restitution, but we don't want them on welfare unnecessarily either or homeless. They're already trying to get a free ride off someone else's labor. Let's save social services for those that actually need them.

@tastyterpenes4140 Ай бұрын

Im a huge fan of Marcus Aurelius…. but I really want to see a modern colosseum 😂

@Sindarielle Ай бұрын

Thankfully this Realtor went with his gut and went out to the property which ended up protecting himself and the real landowner from fraud. Good job!

@samuelb6960 Ай бұрын

Why do we have to pay so much to title companies and title insurance companies if they are not going to do their job?

@insethurdle88 Ай бұрын

They are

@user-iy1vo2jf2q Ай бұрын

@@insethurdle88 Im sold on the 2 word comment 😂

@patmcbride9853 Ай бұрын

Every state should make it mandatory for buyers and sellers to show up in person, show proper ID, and provide a thumbprint for a notary. And the owner of record should be immediately notified when a sale or transfer occurs. I bet that this would end in a New York minute if those making the loans are left holding the bag for fraudulent sales.

@americanadreaming Ай бұрын

If we did that with firearm sales, that would probably save hundreds of lives a year. Instead of saving wealthy landowners a headache, we would be saving lives. I know that zero of you folks would support this, tho.

@patmcbride9853 Ай бұрын

@@americanadreaming I have to show up in person and provide proper ID as well as fill out a form 4473 and wait for a background check to buy a firearm. Criminals don't do any of that and are armed more often than the law abiding. Peddle your BS somewhere else.

@That_Jody_Boy Ай бұрын

You do know you just defined hypocrisy, correct?@@patmcbride9853

@patriotismissexy Ай бұрын

@@patmcbride9853Your hypocrisy and word salad are 2nd to none. You just argued for inequity in the law, something your type is pretty feverish about right now.

@americanadreaming Ай бұрын

@@patriotismissexyPat is a real 'law and order' type of guy... that almost certainly wants you to get back in the kitchen.

@lemontea128 Ай бұрын

Fraudulent sales should be nulled

@silentmajority8365 Ай бұрын

Technology and diversity ruined this country

@FluffberryMcstuffins Ай бұрын

Probably bad news for Trump if we applied the same standards here.

@weaksause6878 Ай бұрын

The bank got scammed not Joe Grasso

@JackieofAllTrades Ай бұрын

@@silentmajority8365 here we go again. there's always one in the crowd. No doubt the scammers were "diverse" and "progressive" tech-savvy devils and not the good, God-fearing, red blooded caucastic "REAL" American types. Right?

@user-nc9hb4pf9x Ай бұрын

Is null and void..

@Mlogan11 Ай бұрын

Can't help but notice they ignored the main line of defense that is failing- county property offices not being rigorous enough in validating ID when someone submits a Title change form.

@user-iy1vo2jf2q Ай бұрын

Title Companies wont give you a "Warranty Deed" only a Title Search, theres a reason, if the title company is found at fault for minimal homework, they legally walk away that way and arent responsible or on the hook for lawsuits.. DO YOUR HOMEWORK ALWAYS before buying land! General rule, if its cheap and too good to be true, its a SCAM. Same with singlewides and doublewides, they dont have the serial numbers on them and theyre legally selling them with XXXX_XXX serial number. That singlewide can be sitting in a field abandoned somewhere with that legal serial number SCAMMERS ARE THICK! BEWARE! Ive walked away from MANY property traps,mobiles,singlewides etc. The flaw is ever since Covid, how to system is being exploited.

@elizabethhenthorn8570 Ай бұрын

I don't think it's a requirement by statute.

@insethurdle88 Ай бұрын

@@elizabethhenthorn8570don't think instead know about something before speaking on it

@elizabethhenthorn8570 Ай бұрын

@@insethurdle88 Thank you for the suggestion.

@JD-xo3xz Ай бұрын

Not gonna happen. Im in FL, and they say it's not their responsibility, and take it up to civil court. All they do is record. Such BS.

@texasstardust6010 Ай бұрын

A " MOBILE NOTARY " SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED. EVER. Period. How is it that this is happening to so many Owners of Homes/ Land. ..?? WAIT. TECHNOLOGY. WHICH HAS GONE FROM A " CONVENIENCE " TO A CRIMINAL INTENT / CRIMINALS PARADISE. And, the Title Companies need to be held responsible!

@joelewis5187 Ай бұрын

Fraud has no statute of limitations, and no a judge cannot rule on fraud. So, the sale is not legal. Yes, the property is still yours. Get a restate lawyer. He should be able to expose the fraud and null the sale.

@mikerevendale4810 Ай бұрын

This kind of fraud is called "Unlawful Conveyance". The documentation isn't worth the paper it's written on and the true owner hasn't lost the property.

@dwguitar4793 Ай бұрын

Exactly

@JD-xo3xz Ай бұрын

You have to prove that in a court. May take months. If you have not checked your property in a while, they may already be a home built on it. Now try evicting them.

@TheThisisliving Ай бұрын

Title company is responsible for any and all losses.

@lineset7765 Ай бұрын

The sale should not be valid.

@InT3graTi-Of-Pur3InH3arT Ай бұрын

EXACTLY 💯

@loboneiner1034 Ай бұрын

It is invalid because there will be violence if someone tries to throw me off my land.

@weaksause6878 Ай бұрын

The bank got scammed not Joe Grasso

@weaksause6878 Ай бұрын

The bank got scammed not Joe Grasso

@dc100dc100 Ай бұрын

Supposedly, if you put a lien on the property in your own name, you can complicate this theft.

@mbn0505 Ай бұрын

That is actually a really good idea!

@JimDean002 Ай бұрын

That is a really good idea because they won't close until a lien has been satisfied. It's kind of a backdoor way of making sure you get notified

@Trike. Ай бұрын

The real owner can , with the help of his attorney place a Lis Pendens on the property to stop any future transfers , but actually the person that bought the from the scammer will most likely be out their money once they get it onto court .

@joshflanders9535 Ай бұрын

Definitely should have a 5 year penalty mandatory prison time for theft of land property.

@thedeafcattledog8608 Ай бұрын

On a chain gang on I-35 in August

@kjam360 Ай бұрын

The RED FLAG for me would be, "I want to move FAST". This should be a RED FLAG to EVERY Realtor! That's when you take the steps like this Realtor did and expose them! This world has gotten EVIL and damn near EVERYTHING in it! It's a damn shame when you have stuff like this going on! What's next, someone trying to sell your car while you're driving it?

@piratelechuck1911 Ай бұрын

Let trash into your system and this is what happens. Nobody is surprised.

@user-kt1it8kc1p Ай бұрын

The County/City needs to reach out to the owner if for any reason there is a change to the deed of ownership or attempted ownership and they would need to meet at the county assessors office!

@JD-xo3xz Ай бұрын

I'm in FL and did that only after I found out that you have to go online and place a notice to be emailed to you if there is any change in your title status. By then, it becomes a civil matter to battle out for months.

@CrainialCommando Ай бұрын

Some states offer a notification system for when a land title changes hands but it doesn't cover very many states and needs to be implemented country wide for safety.

@matthewrogers94mr Ай бұрын

Heres a solution the title hast to be done in person with multitude forms of ID to transfer the title.

@sexyplexie Ай бұрын

it's less of a drain on society to hold title companies responsible so they do their job.

@silentmajority8365 Ай бұрын

Could this happen had we not outsourced financial info online?

@goodoljackburton9211 Ай бұрын

The scammers are hardly ever caught and punished. It’s why this sort of fraud continues.

@R7Romeo Ай бұрын

I call this having a quarter waiting on a dime. People are still faster than the clock including the agents clerks an all.

@honkeykong9563 Ай бұрын

First there were Porch Pirates and now Title Pirates!? What's next?! Butt Pirates?!

@Marshmallowzzzzz Ай бұрын

Only in June 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

@BriannaJames-dk6yn Ай бұрын

New laws need to be passed to protect homeowners. Fraudulent identifications are way too easy to obtain and not easy to verify.

@mjay512 Ай бұрын

This is BS. If a loan company is involved it should be on them, since they gave a loan to a buyer for land that was not owned by their seller. When paperwork is brought in to the county recorder, by the buyer or seller, rather than received from an Escrow Company, the County Recorder needs to Verify the owner of record and NOT record anything until they have responded. NEVER should the real landowner or home owner be the one who forfeits anything. Also we need Legislation FAST making the penalty for this crime NOT worth the risk. This should have already been done. Instead we have Legislators here in CA who are downgrading crime, making it hard on victims.

@lothean2099 Ай бұрын

I think if people start suing the title companies, this might slow down this type of crime.

@trinaisspeakin4539 Ай бұрын

The fact that the government makes this so damn easy is the actual problem. It should be extremely difficult to change anything that requires a title to be changed from name to name.

@countessk Ай бұрын

It would be nice if the news would share ways this can be prevented. Is there such a thing as a title freeze like there is for credit? And how can it be done? That would be useful info.

@user-rx7dc7qn9v Ай бұрын

That's exactly why you have the deed to the land and that's when no one can take it from you 💯🤑

@JD-xo3xz Ай бұрын

Does not work like that. Did you not just watch the video? If the realtor had not been suspicious, this would have been a done deal with fraudulent signatures.

@theresaj.pereda7648 Ай бұрын

Why isn’t the State doing anything about it? Government workers should up their game, if anything happens the Government should be responsible.

@davepowder4020 Ай бұрын

It's Texas. If anything, the state might investigate whether this realtor that stopped the scam is a registered Democrat and prosecute him for it.

@phillhuddleston9445 5 күн бұрын

You should have to do this in person with photos taken and possibly other measures to prove that you are the real owner. Usually the sale involves a cashiers check made to the seller, They should be able to track this to the person that cashed the check that had the real owners name on it, these transactions do not use cash.

@gc5Hayward Ай бұрын

This stuff is serious; happened-almost to a family friend; the realtor last minute with final documents in decided to stop at friends address to confirm the sale and what a shock to find they were one check away from losing their property not even aware.

@ecduzitgood Ай бұрын

The banks should have to eat the loss.

@weaksause6878 Ай бұрын

The bank got scammed not Joe Grasso

@niteshades_promise Ай бұрын

@weaksause6878 stop spamming this comment! 🍻

@sexyplexie Ай бұрын

food for thought, what if there is no bank involved? not all land owners have a mortgage, buyer nor seller. trying to make it the banks problem doesn't do any good for anyone. if you want to penalize a third party because you hate the third party, penalize the title company that facilitated the sale (as required by law.)

@jongonegone1262 Ай бұрын

they forced us to use it, GET RID OF THE INTERNET.

@KahsoDeArtist Ай бұрын

This happened to my family in Cedar Park. This idiot even had a way to remotely open the lockbox to look into the house.

@drew7257 Ай бұрын

Mobile Notaries are the 1st problem...

@monos70 Ай бұрын

I wonder what their battlecry is. For regular pirates its:"Yarrrrr!"

@TheFlatbedChick Ай бұрын

It should be WAY harder to transfer title. Online absentee “ owners” should NOT be allowed. They should have to show up in person, show Multiple forms of ID and wait for a background / ownership check to go through before being allowed to sell a property! It should be just as complicated involved as getting a mortgage on a property. These crappy laws that benefit CRIMINALS should be replaced!!

@napalmholocaust9093 Ай бұрын

A screen shot is not a valid legal anything.

@niteshades_promise Ай бұрын

was good enough for "covid passports" 🍻

@sudilos1172 Ай бұрын

Mobile Notary, the worlds worst idea ever.

@r.j.4950 Ай бұрын

Can one of these geniuses tell whatever happened to doing a title search as would normally be done if using a lawyer ? You can also do one yourself for a small fee, any real estate broker or sales person can and should do one before any transaction. Make it a felony to not perform a title search & having it notarized.

@GEAUXFRUGAL Ай бұрын

How about a fingerprint on the title is that too much to ask. Wherever the new buyer is put a fingerprint.

@sexyplexie Ай бұрын

you can forge a fingerprint if you can pull the same fingerprint from county records where the deed/title is filed. this is not a perfect solution, it will just make it harder to pull off.

@paddlethewaterstx Ай бұрын

Easy solution is to always maintain a mortgage on your property. Even if it's a small balance, title cannot be conveyed until lender is paid off and at which time documents have to be notorized and verified.

@vicentee2687 Ай бұрын

i live in FL where this kind of stuff and other scams are rampant im glad i have a va loan they actually check to verify and check again

@GardensoftheAncientsHerbal Ай бұрын

Snap I was looking at that lot….

@finn3408 Ай бұрын

GOVERNOR ABBOTT. PLEASE MAKE LAWS TO STOP THIS NOW.

@Trump_voters_love_Treason Ай бұрын

The all caps should get his attention

@dd_ranchtexas4501 25 күн бұрын

@finn3408 The Lege makes the laws, not the Gov..... [The caps lock key is on the left of your keyboard.]

@Trysaratop Ай бұрын

I feel bad for the notary if tricked into signing because they can get fined or go to jail.

@VonBluesman Ай бұрын

That’s why you hire a realestate attorney.

@Demshavenobrains Ай бұрын

Same thing happened with Graceland…

@robinperronjones5024 Ай бұрын

This is a circus, it’s the title companies responsibility, these issues should not be dumped on the general public, typical of the companies shirking their responsibility. Get the authorities to resolve the problem, that’s why we pay insurances and tax

@user-rm8hh1tb2u Ай бұрын

Just call the beekeeper 🐝

@SeanWork Ай бұрын

Geee a teeny bit of regulation / extra required steps would solve this problem in a jiffy.

@Bluebird-farm Ай бұрын

Put them in jail for life and it would stop this shot!!! We have got way too damn soft on crime in this country…. Sick of it, cant believe this and many other things are happening in this country in the last 4 years!!!

@jessicauresti5756 Ай бұрын

That they don’t own it anymore? Fk that. That’s not on me. House and land are still mine.

@tEqUiko Ай бұрын

Flipping hell

@marysmith9954 Ай бұрын

Some counties allow you to register so if anybody tries to steal your title you will know what’s going on and be alerted

@SSpees Ай бұрын

New laws should be passed to pause any online sales and make an in person validation of title and $$.

@Jack-ne8vm Ай бұрын

Do notaries require thumb prints? Track the culprits.

@joltjolt5060 Ай бұрын

Title companies ARE liable.

@marsflee3815 Ай бұрын

All that training and education and they can't come-up with a solution? It almost seems like they're getting their hands buttered to make it easier on the criminals to processes the sales/deeds so easily, while non-criminal sellers/buyers have to go through stacks of forms just to make a purchase/sale.

@rogerbec5766 Ай бұрын

One of these days someone is going to get hurt real bad likely assuming room temperature. Title pirates should be sent to prison for their own safety.

@mikiejr111 Ай бұрын

Total BullShit

@kitbiggz6135 Ай бұрын

Why show thieves a new crime

@trinsit Ай бұрын

So what happens if a sale goes through? It's as if you left out the most important part. As if the landowner is SOL.

@Maranatha1777 Ай бұрын

Hmm 😮How you going to know the difference?

@boblynch2802 Ай бұрын

Uh... What is going on with the Title Company? Title Insurance?

@farmfreshideas579 Ай бұрын

When everything can be done online You’re bound to get fraudulent activity. The easy remedy around this is to legislate a state law stating the seller has to be present at a closing, title office, with two forms of identification and a fingerprint or have an attorney present. Furthermore, Attorney needs to sign an affidavit verifying the seller, if not the seller, he’s liable and a co-conspirator for the fraudulent sell. It’s a shame, but fraud is heavy.

@donaldsherman660 Ай бұрын

here they ask for a g a utility bill

@theaveragegamerno1589 Ай бұрын

Wait... so some saying they "Joe" can get a copy of Joes land title. But with the original to show no sale in possesion of the owner shouldnt it be a clear case of fraud? Like the buyer would be the one out of money not the land owner being put out right?

@geneellis1968 Ай бұрын

I wonder if they caught the land thief.

@davidwaynereyes Ай бұрын

Yeah the same thing happened in 1835 and after.

@michaellewis4632 Ай бұрын

Beautiful peace of property it’s sand and bushes nothing beautiful about it

@theyreoutthere.huntinggear Ай бұрын

With how much they are tracking everyone , they should know scammers , or they just charge scammers a cut and let them conduct business as usual. The city officials know who and where the scammers are. They should

@whiskeystraw Ай бұрын

This is the type of stuff Congress should be on 4 years ago instead of this Social Media Politics. A national rule needs made to protect all Americans.

@sexyplexie Ай бұрын

it's a state issue, not a federal issue, but yeah this does seem more important than lawfare, the onslaught of constitutional violations, frivolous EO reversals, or the banning of public forums to control public opinions.

@loriar1027 Ай бұрын

This story would have been a lot more helpful if they'd tell us how to prevent it or what to do if it happens.

@8genmilitaryfamusa671 Ай бұрын

Texas is really going downhill....everywhere.

@allenhansen7124 Ай бұрын

Land needs to be more secure. Needs reform now.

@abcdefghi9 Ай бұрын

A blockchain system of recording land transactions would prevent frauds like this.

@nedoscarsandfishingvideos5500 Ай бұрын

Tittle company needs to do there job

@jamiedevereaux261 Ай бұрын

Why are we talking about this? We have laws use them!!!

@cobaltbroker Ай бұрын

I hope the realtor and the owner played this fraud all the way to the closing table with the sherif's arrival to arrest the perpetrator.

@TheCameron230 Ай бұрын

This has been going on for years and years, has been a big problem for florida, mostly rentals tho

@ronnieallen6986 Ай бұрын

Where I live can't happen so easily have to go to the probate title office in person to sign and they need a lots of information and other people to sign it was a long process for me to get my dad's home in my name and my brother's name after my dad passed away I live in Phenix City,AL in Lee county They are very strict on this

@umeng2002 Ай бұрын

Arrrrrrrrrr

@jamisonmunn9215 Ай бұрын

There are all these comments and no one talking about the real issue. The justice system has failed normal hard working Americans. Give a bunch of people 20 years and see how fast these scams stop.

@PilotVBall Ай бұрын

This entire country is a mess! Blame rests with the incompetent delinquents at the county. There's absolutely no excuse why this is happening. The county is to blame.

@gretchenlook628 Ай бұрын

Sad part is your information is on the internet

@user-du5tg4si2j Ай бұрын

WHO CAN YOU CALL? THE CRIME FAMILIES WONT BE THERE FOR US AMERICANS!

@cleancutszl Ай бұрын

Ok help this make sense you can sell someone's property without them knowing and not go to jail but if you buy stolen items from someone you go to jail

@Uncletoast52 Ай бұрын

Title Co. are getting sloppy.

@nikosolikos Ай бұрын

Can you teach me how to do this 7 on your side?

@Omar_Zazzle Ай бұрын

Move to North Korea and you will get educated.

@GirthBrooksOfficial Ай бұрын

I want to ask nowadays you don't even have to meet face-to-face anymore to sell land?

@vector150 Ай бұрын

Okay it shouldn't happen at all. It shouldn't be that easy government's the one at the fault cuz they're feeling the citizens

@davidruiz2474 Ай бұрын

What about veterans like myself who don't pay property tax here in Texas...can or has this happened?

@silentmajority8365 Ай бұрын

Technology and diversity enjoy

@noid8814 Ай бұрын

This was texas where it happened.

@noid8814 Ай бұрын

@@silentmajority8365Funny you would say diversity. I would wage every dollar.I have you're not native american. You should never have dropped out of high school.

@davidruiz2474 Ай бұрын

@@noid8814 I'm aware, that's why I replied

@nikosolikos Ай бұрын

Yes, you’re the easiest type of target.