Phoenix resident D’Andrea Turner was shocked to find her home occupied by squatters who had not only assumed her identity but also sold her property without her consent. The incident occurred after her ex-husband, Keith, a long-haul trucker, left the house unattended for an extended period. The squatters, Aaron Polmanteer and Lledera Hollen, broke into the house, found personal documents belonging to the Turners, and used them to forge new ones, effectively assuming their identities.
Armed with the fraudulent paperwork, Polmanteer and Hollen successfully listed and sold the house to real estate investors for $200,000, all without the Turners’ knowledge. Their scheme, however, fell apart when they attempted to cash checks written in the Turners’ names. The pair now await trial, and Turner’s home has been returned to her. This incident highlights a growing trend of criminals selling properties without the owners’ knowledge.
Title fraud is a serious crime that involves the theft of a homeowner’s legal right to their property, which is recorded on a deed. In a legitimate real estate transaction, the title transfer is carefully overseen by a real estate agent, title company, and notary to ensure everything is properly documented. However, fraudsters have found ways to manipulate the system, sometimes slipping through these safeguards undetected.
In Turner’s case, Polmanteer and Hollen were able to deceive a title company and notary by forging documents and impersonating her and her ex-husband. By the time Turner realized what had happened, the property had already changed hands on paper. She was shocked when she saw the forged documents, questioning how such a thing could happen.
Title fraud is on the rise and can happen to anyone, but properties that are vacant or mortgage-free are at the greatest risk. Homeowners may not discover their title has been stolen until long after it has changed hands. To combat title theft, homeowners are advised to monitor their property and work with a trusted title company.
Title companies conduct thorough research into the property’s history, checking for outstanding mortgages, liens, judgments, or unpaid taxes that could affect ownership. Once they confirm a title is clear, the company compiles a title report and issues title insurance, which protects buyers from financial or legal trouble if hidden claims or fraud surface down the road.
Homeowners are also advised to protect their personal information. The fraudsters who stole Turner’s home were able to do so after accessing personal documents that helped them forge ownership records. Simple precautions such as keeping deeds, mortgage paperwork, and personal identification in a locked safe or another secure location can help prevent this type of theft.
If homeowners suspect title fraud, they should act quickly. Checking property records, filing a police report, consulting a real estate attorney, and notifying the title company are some of the steps that can be taken to reclaim ownership.