'It's heartbreaking': 90-year-old faces eviction from Brooklyn home after he says he unknowingly fell for a deed scam 18 years ago. Here's what happened

A common type of real estate scam

Cortez bought the family home in 1969 for $20,000. In the five decades since, it has been surrounded by million-dollar condos, restaurants, bars and the Barclays Center, home to the Brooklyn Nets.

Now, the old house is valued at close to $3 million, according to Eyewitness News, but Cortez’s name is not on the deed.

“It’s a travesty,” Tom Harriman, who also described Cortez as “the perfect neighbor,” told Eyewitness News. “All of us on this street are just appalled.”

Sadly, housing scams are not uncommon in up-and-coming neighborhoods, according to Cortez’s attorney, Bill Lienhard.

“If you go into certain neighborhoods, mostly communities of color in Brooklyn, from Prospect Heights over towards East New York and then southeast Queens, everybody on every block knows somebody who has been a victim of deed theft or real estate fraud,” he told Eyewitness News.

The eviction was temporariy stayed, the local broadcaster reported, and the Attorney General’s office was reviewing the case. However, an October update on justicefor91stmarksplace.com stated AG Leticia James would not intervene, but hoped she might reconsider.

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Protect yourself against deed fraud

Deed fraud — sometimes called home title fraud, title theft or house stealing — is when thieves steal the title of a home.

This type of fraud commonly starts with identity theft, where criminals forge a deed that transfers ownership of a property. In other cases, crooks might deceive a homeowner into signing over ownership, often with the promise of financial assistance.

Once property ownership has been transferred, the deed holder may attempt to occupy the space, sell it or rent it out, or borrow money against the property.

There are ways to protect yourself and your home from deed fraud. For instance, you should pay attention to incoming bills — like mortgage bills, tax bills, utility bills and so on — to ensure they’re still coming in and that all the information is correct. You can also check the status of your property deed at the local registry office.

Perhaps most importantly, you can monitor your credit reports for signs of identity theft. Look out for unfamiliar accounts or debt balances that are higher than expected as those could be warning signs that someone is making money moves in your name. Finally, you can purchase a title insurance policy when you buy a house or refinance. This type of coverage can protect you against impersonation or forgery.