When your house is not your home: Here's the latest scam on the block
What will thieves think of next?
The FBI put out a press release on its Web site today about a new crime. It starts this way:
"What do you get when you combine two popular rackets these days -- identity theft and mortgage fraud? A totally new kind of crime: house stealing."
Here's how it generally works:
1. Con artists start by picking out a house to steal -- say YOURS.
2. Next, they assume your identity -- getting a hold of your name and personal information (easy enough to do off the Internet) and using that to create fake IDs, social security cards, etc.
3. Then they go to an office supply store and purchase forms that transfer property.
4. After forging your signature and using the fake IDs, they file these deeds with the proper authorities, and lo and behold, your house is now THEIRS.
Read more: House stealing
The FBI put out a press release on its Web site today about a new crime. It starts this way:
"What do you get when you combine two popular rackets these days -- identity theft and mortgage fraud? A totally new kind of crime: house stealing."
Here's how it generally works:
1. Con artists start by picking out a house to steal -- say YOURS.
2. Next, they assume your identity -- getting a hold of your name and personal information (easy enough to do off the Internet) and using that to create fake IDs, social security cards, etc.
3. Then they go to an office supply store and purchase forms that transfer property.
4. After forging your signature and using the fake IDs, they file these deeds with the proper authorities, and lo and behold, your house is now THEIRS.
Read more: House stealing
About the Blogger
Larry Altman has covered crime in the South Bay since 1990. He's seen it all - the missing model who turned up dead in the desert, the wives found dead in trunks, the high-school coaches who get a little too close to their players. He drives his young colleagues nuts with his "I remember when" stories. He welcomes your tips and observations about the present, and you can mix in a little Lakers basketball talk if you like.
E-mail Larry at larry.altman@dailybreeze.com.
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