Protecting Yourself
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Consumer advocates and legal-aid attorneys offer homeowners these tips to avoid becoming victims of forged-deed fraud:
--Don’t sign any real estate document without first reviewing it with an attorney or other knowledgeable person. Take the document home with you to study. Ask questions about any language or sections you don’t understand.
--Don’t sign anything that’s presented to you at your front door. If you didn’t go in search of a loan, don’t take one.
--Make sure you know what kind of deed you are signing. Don’t sign a grant deed when you mean to sign a deed of trust.
--If you are defrauded, contact the Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs, (213) 974-1452. The staff there provides counseling and can investigate the scam. The attorneys at legal-aid agencies can provide low-cost advice.
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