PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) \u2014 Philadelphia is using new technology to prevent a type of deed fraud that has stripped families of property rights for years.<\/p>\n
Records Commissioner Jim Leonard says houses are stolen right out from under families by fraudsters who forge the names of deceased homeowners onto deeds and then register them with his office, creating a transfer of ownership. He says the targets of this fraud are often least able to navigate the costly legal actions required to correct it. His office has tried to help, but there was no way to tell if a deed signer was dead until now.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur solution, the Vital Status Verification System that we\u2019re implementing, is a targeted technological solution to address this specific vulnerability,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n
It will match signatures and dates with government records, rejecting any deed signed by a person after their death. The person offering a forged deed will be referred to law enforcement.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe approach aligns with the kind of innovative, responsive government that our residents deserve,\u201d Leonard said.<\/p>\n
Mayor Cherelle Parker says the program, which went into effect last week, is the first of its kind. So far, no forged deeds have been detected.<\/p>\n
Last year, more than 100 Philadelphia families lost property they should have inherited because of deed fraud.<\/p>\n