The State Commission of Investigation (SCI) found New Jersey property owners are increasingly being victimized by the schemes and identified weaknesses in how sellers are verified and property transfers are recorded.
A fraudster can impersonate a property owner and complete a fraudulent property transfer before the real owner knows anything is wrong, according to a new state investigation into deed fraud.
FBI data compiled for the investigation identified approximately 135 reported incidents in New Jersey from 2020 through early March 2026, placing the state among the top three nationally during that period. The FBI cautioned that the total likely understates the problem because some incidents go unreported or are classified under broader fraud categories.
How deed fraud works
The schemes typically begin with someone using public records to identify a property and gather information…
This remains the most prevalent form of financial crime globally. It targets the direct access points to your money: your cards and your bank accounts.
- Skimming: Criminals use small devices called “skimmers” placed over ATM or point-of-sale card slots to capture the data from your card’s magnetic strip.
- Card-Not-Present (CNP) Fraud: This occurs during online shopping where a physical card isn’t required. Thieves use stolen card numbers, expiry dates, and CVV codes to make unauthorized purchases.
- Account Takeover (ATO): A hacker gains access to your online banking credentials (often through malware or phishing) and changes the contact details or passwords, locking you out while they drain your funds.