Dedham, MA – October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a nationwide initiative launched in 2004 by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance to promote online safety and cybersecurity awareness. In recognition of the month and in light of increasing public attention relating to “deed theft,” Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell is reminding residents about the Registry’s free Consumer Notification Program, a service designed to alert subscribers whenever a document is recorded under their name.
The Consumer Notification Program was launched by the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds in 2015 to help property owners monitor activity involving their real estate. Subscribers receive an email notification whenever a document is recorded under the name they have registered. Since its inception, more than 5,350 Norfolk County residents have enrolled in the service. Information about Consumer Notification can be found on the Registry website, www.norfolkdeeds.org, under the heading “Services.” The Registry’s Customer Service Department is also available to assist residents who wish to enroll.
Commenting on the issue, Register O’Donnell stated, “Our mission at the Registry of Deeds is the safety and security of all property records. We recognize that there are unscrupulous individuals who may seek to take advantage of the property rights of others. The Consumer Notification Program provides residents with an additional tool to monitor activity recorded under their name and stay informed about documents affecting their property. The consumer Notification Service does not prevent the fraud but can alert the homeowner to what is taking place.”
Deed theft can take different forms. The most common type of fraud preys on people who are in danger of losing their property, usually rental property, through foreclosure. Property owners are told that they qualify for a “short sale,” a process whereby the foreclosing lender settles for less than the amount owed on the mortgage, and that if they sign the deed over to a third party, they can avoid foreclosure. The owner signs the deed over to the scammer, not realizing they remain responsible for the debt. Rather than negotiating a short sale, the scammer collects and keeps rental payments until the lender ultimately forecloses. Variations of this scam have also involved the principal residences of unsuspecting consumers.
Another type of deed theft targets elderly homeowners who sign over their property without fully understanding the consequences. In some cases, these transfers have been facilitated by a family member or another individual trusted by the homeowner. Deed theft is a serious crime that can result in the loss of one’s home and accumulated equity. Homeowners should be cautious and consult an attorney before signing any document that affects ownership of their property.
Less common, but increasingly receiving public attention, is deed fraud through forgery and identity theft. In these instances, a scammer forges a homeowner’s signature or assumes the homeowner’s identity and attempts to transfer ownership of property without the owner’s knowledge. A forged deed is not valid and conveys no legal ownership interest. Forgery is a felony in all fifty states and can result in imprisonment, substantial fines, and court-ordered restitution.
Notable cases across the country have brought this issue into sharper focus.
In Philadelphia, a woman working as a notary public was charged with stealing ownership of more than 20 homes over an eight-year period. Authorities allege she used her position to forge signatures and notarize fraudulent deeds, transferring properties, often belonging to deceased or elderly individuals, into the names of accomplices or shell buyers.
Similar incidents have also occurred in Massachusetts. In Concord in 2024, a couple’s retirement property was fraudulently sold for more than half a million dollars. The scammer allegedly used a fake passport, driver’s license, and email account to impersonate the owner, deceiving real estate professionals and selling the land to a developer who began construction before the fraud was discovered.
More recently, in July 2026, three individuals were charged in an alleged $1.5 million deed fraud scheme involving Massachusetts properties. Prosecutors allege the scammers used fake passports, driver’s licenses, and online accounts to impersonate legitimate property owners, allowing them to sell vacant land without the owners’ knowledge. The properties were transferred to unsuspecting buyers, and the proceeds were allegedly laundered through various bank accounts before the fraud was uncovered.
If you have any questions about the notification service, please contact our Customer Service Center at 781-461-6101, Monday through Friday between the hours of 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Our trained staff is more than willing to answer any questions you may have.