It is perhaps probably the most well-known estates in America, however its notoriety didn’t dissuade a Missouri lady from making an attempt to fraudulently promote Memphis landmark Graceland, the previous residence of Elvis Presley.
The scheme was designed to wrest hundreds of thousands of {dollars} away from Presley’s household, in response to a report by The New York Occasions that cites court docket paperwork (1) detailing how Jeanine Findley, 54, tried to foreclose on Graceland.
Findley was sentenced to 4 years and 9 months in jail after pleading responsible to 1 rely of mail fraud in a plea settlement that noticed a rely of aggravated id theft dismissed.
The scheme started about six months after Lisa Marie Presley, daughter of Elvis Presley, died in 2023, the Occasions reported.
A fabricated firm known as Naussany Investments & Non-public Lending LLC claimed that Lisa Marie Presley had taken out a $3.8 million mortgage, utilizing Graceland as collateral, and had not repaid it earlier than she died.
In accordance with the Occasions, the affidavit filed for her arrest mentioned Findley used varied aliases, electronic mail addresses and faux paperwork as a part of a plan to threaten to foreclose on the property. The scheme included a bundle containing a “creditor’s declare,” together with false affidavits despatched to the Shelby County Register’s Workplace. A fraudulent “Discover of Foreclosures Sale” was additionally revealed in a Memphis newspaper.
It sounds unimaginable — how may a fraudster promote your house out from underneath you? However fraudulent residence gross sales can occur.
In 2023, it was reported in Canada that personal investigators working for a title insurance coverage firm discovered at the least 30 properties within the Larger Toronto Space had been offered or mortgaged with out the homeowners’ information. In accordance with the CBC, the investigators say in 4 of the instances id theft and title switch fraud have been used to steal possession of the properties. (2)
Learn extra: US automotive insurance coverage prices have surged 50% from 2020 to 2024 — this easy 2-minute examine may put lots of again in your pocket
However not all actual property scams are so elaborate. Listed here are some that may affect consumers and sellers:
-
Title fraud: Identification theft is used to steal the title to a house, and scammers then promote or take out a brand new mortgage on it.
-
Quitclaim deed fraud: Quitclaim deeds are authorized paperwork that may switch an proprietor’s curiosity in a property. Fraudsters could use solid paperwork to switch possession to themselves.
-
Foreclosures fraud: Scammers could goal people who find themselves dealing with monetary problem or foreclosures, posing as a lifeline, and in return ask you to switch your title to them as collateral.
One other sort of rip-off focusing on residence consumers includes wire switch fraud. Cybercriminals hack into electronic mail accounts and goal pending transactions, constructing complete pretend profiles for title corporations, consumers and sellers, and actual property businesses. They will then ship directions to deposit cash, corresponding to for a down fee, which leads to the fingers of the scammers.
A key solution to defend your self in opposition to actual property fraud is to guard your private info. Watch out about what you share on-line, and be cautious of anybody asking on your full title, tackle, start date, Social Safety quantity or banking info.
Keep updated with and at all times evaluate your payments and checking account statements to make sure all is regular. You must also get your credit score stories recurrently and evaluate them. You might be entitled to obtain one free report yearly from every of the three nationwide credit score bureaus — Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. There’s just one web site that may course of requests on your free annual stories.
When you reside in a spot that provides free alerts for any modifications made to your deed, you must join.
Usually scammers will goal vacant properties, the place the homeowners live in a foreign country or have moved to a retirement or long-term care facility. Take into account asking a neighbor to examine in on such a property infrequently. You might also wish to arrange a Google alert for the tackle in case it exhibits up on any actual property or rental web sites.
Be a part of 200,000+ readers and get Moneywise’s finest tales and unique interviews first — clear insights curated and delivered weekly. Subscribe now.
We rely solely on vetted sources and credible third-party reporting. For particulars, see our editorial ethics and tips.
The New York Occasions (1); CBC (2)
This text supplies info solely and shouldn’t be construed as recommendation. It’s supplied with out guarantee of any form.
