Another Grant Deed scam.

[Mitch Kronowit]

http://pictureperfectsandiego.com/2011/02/07/beware-of-forged-grant-deed-scam/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+PicturePerfectSanDiego+%28Picture+Perfect+San+Diego%29

Isn't there something more county recorders can do to prevent this type of scam? I mean you can't even change your mailing address with your credit card company without them sending a notice to your old address just to confirm you indeed changed it. Shouldn't the recording of a deed require notifying the owner of record of the change?

Some lessons from this case?

#1 - Always purchase title insurance.
#2 - Be extra cautious when the seller has only owned the property for a brief period? (flipper comments?)
#3 - Contact the previous seller to confirm the sale?

Your thoughts please.

[Mike G.]

Wow, that's scary.

In LA county, whenever a deed gets recorded, the current owner does get mailed, but it can take a couple of weeks.

I guess if you have no previous working history with the seller, it would be a good idea to contact the previous owner to make sure the transfer was legit. Yikes.