The FBI’s Boston Division is warning Massachusetts property owners and real estate professionals about a sharp rise in quit claim deed fraud. Criminals are forging documents, hijacking identities, and recording phony transfers with county offices, then flipping homes or taking out loans before the real owners discover what happened. The schemes are hitting central city and suburban areas, and they often target vacant land or properties with no mortgage, creating fast cashouts with high equity for scammers and years of fallout for victims.
From 2019 to 2023, real estate crime losses across the Boston Division topped $61.5 million, and Massachusetts alone accounted for more than $46 million. Agents say the shift to remote communications and e-notary workflows has widened the attack surface, while victims, including seniors and families under financial strain, face long court battles to unwind fraudulent filings. The FBI is urging vigilance, rapid reporting, and tighter verification at every step of a transaction in Massachusetts.
This article was first reported by fbi.gov
