Philadelphia has received 152 reports of deed fraud so far in 2026, nearly matching the 159 reports filed during all of 2025, according to the city’s Department of Records.
The numbers highlight concerns about a type of property theft that can leave homeowners and their families fighting for years to reclaim their homes.
Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner believes the problem is more widespread than the reported cases suggest.
“I think deed fraud is going on in a really big way, but there is a small number of cases that are being caught,” Krasner said.
For Elaine Garcia, the issue became personal after the death of her older brother, Frank Garcia, in 2022.
“It wasn’t his time to go,” Garcia said.
Years before his death, Frank Garcia created a will stipulating that his sister would inherit his belongings, including his Philadelphia home on North Randolph…
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.