A 90-year-old Mount Vernon homeowner is speaking out after receiving suspicious notices connected to her property, as local officials warn residents about a growing rise in deed theft scams targeting homeowners.
“Especially at my age, what happens is you’re a nervous wreck,” homeowner Cynthia Goldson said in an interview with News 12 Westchester. “I don’t know who to see, I don’t know who to ask, and they all sound so helpful.”
Goldson’s emotional comments are fast gaining traction online as housing experts and city officials raise alarms about deed theft, a form of real estate fraud where criminals allegedly steal ownership of homes through forged documents, fake identities, or fraudulent deed transfers.
Mount Vernon Comptroller Darren Morton said the city began sounding the alarm after residents reported receiving unusual notifications related to their homes.
“It was important for us because we recently started to get a bunch of inquiries about notifications that our residents are receiving,” Morton said. “In addition to that, we had some instances with that here in Mount Vernon.”
The scam can be financially devastating, especially for elderly homeowners who may already feel overwhelmed navigating legal paperwork and property records.
Real estate attorney David Fair explained that deed theft is often far easier to commit than many people realize.
“Deed theft is exactly what it sounds like,” Fair said. “It’s stealing someone’s home by forgery or fraudulently obtaining the deed and reporting it as if you are the rightful owner.”
According to Fair, once fraudulent paperwork is filed with a county clerk’s office, scammers may attempt to sell the home, borrow against it, or create legal complications that can take months or years to resolve.
That growing threat has left many homeowners fearful about whether their property ownership could be compromised without them immediately realizing it.
Goldson said the uncertainty itself has become emotionally exhausting.
“I don’t know who to trust anymore,” she said.
Fair is now urging homeowners to regularly monitor public property records to ensure no unauthorized mortgages, liens, or deed transfers appear under their names.
“At least once a year,” he advised. “You can go on the County Clerk’s website, and you can see any mortgages or deeds that were recorded on your property.”
Consumer advocates say elderly homeowners, families with paid-off homes, absentee owners, and inherited property holders are often specifically targeted because scammers assume they are less likely to frequently monitor property filings.
Experts also warn residents to be cautious of unexpected calls, letters, emails, or notices regarding ownership changes, unpaid balances, or urgent property-related requests.
As home values continue rising nationwide, deed theft has become an increasingly lucrative form of fraud, prompting local governments and legal professionals to push for greater public awareness.
For Goldson, however, the issue is not just financial, it is deeply personal.
Her warning highlights the fear many older homeowners now face as scammers grow more sophisticated and trust becomes harder to place.
