Philadelphia launches new tool to stop deed fraud

Philadelphia has taken a significant step in protecting homeowners by launching a unique system to combat deed fraud, the first of its kind in the nation. City officials from the Revenue, Records, and Law Departments collaborated to create a deed lookup tool that verifies property ownership against the Social Security Administration's Death Master File. This tool allows Records staff to check if a deceased owner's name has been fraudulently used in a deed transfer. If a transfer is flagged as potentially fraudulent, it will not be recorded, safeguarding the property from theft. Homeowners can contest any erroneous flags by providing evidence that the legal owner was alive and approved the transfer.

The new system aims to prevent long and costly court battles for victims of fraud. Philadelphia's proactive measures reflect a commitment to preserving generational wealth for its residents. The collaborative effort underscores the importance of interdepartmental cooperation in addressing significant issues affecting the community.