Date: 03/28/2024 – By: Grant Palmer, Fox 25
OKLAHOMA CITY- (KOKH) — A woman was arrested after allegedly trying to steal a house from a deceased homeowner and their family.
According to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), deputies were called last week to the County Clerk’s Office where 32-year-old Tyeresha Lee Barnett was trying to file fraudulent paperwork to take possession of a home on SW 49th Street.
According to the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office (OCSO), deputies were called last week to the County Clerk’s Office where 32-year-old Tyeresha Lee Barnett was trying to file fraudulent paperwork to take possession of a home on SW 49th Street.
OCSO said Barnett told deputies her boyfriend purchased the home for $5000.
While investigating, deputies noticed the signature on the fraudulent paperwork did not match the homeowner’s signature.
While investigating, deputies noticed the signature on the fraudulent paperwork did not match the homeowner’s signature.
Officials said Barnett had several stolen credit cards and fake IDs with her when she was arrested.
“If it wasn’t for the trust, our house would have been taken away,” said Saina Monhatwa.
Monhatwa tells FOX 25 that her grandfather leaving her mother’s home in a trust was the only thing that prevented it from being taken from them. She said her mother passed away in November, and she and her brother would often drive by her house.
One time when they did, they encountered a woman, now known as Barnett.
“One day when we drove by, this lady was trying to get into my mom’s house and claim that it was hers. And she showed us the deed, and we said ‘This isn’t a right deed, there’s no way my grandpa would’ve sold you this house,'” she said.
There’s only one problem though; the deed was fake.
“Quite honestly, if someone brings in a deed and it’s signed, and there’s a notary, then we legally have to file it,” said Maressa Treat, Oklahoma County Clerk.
Monhatwa said they then went back up to the county clerk’s office, saying the deed showing that her grandfather released the property to Barnett was false, and that Barnett acquired the property fraudulently.
It was explained to Barnett that the deed filed on February 23rd didn’t have a clear title, and Barnett came into the clerk’s office to file a correction deed.
Soon after, OCSO was contacted. Deputies questioned Barnett and later arrested her.
Treat said this happens way too often, and that it needs to be harder to become a notary public.
“I think it’s coming to ‘How do we tighten up that process?’ It really shouldn’t be that easy to become a notary. Because you’re signing really, really important documents and so, I think that’s one piece of this big problem out there,” she said.
Treat said the Oklahoma County Clerk’s office is suggesting residents sign up for their property alerts system on their website to look out for possible fraudulent activity.
“If it wasn’t for the trust, our house would have been taken away,” said Saina Monhatwa.
Monhatwa tells FOX 25 that her grandfather leaving her mother’s home in a trust was the only thing that prevented it from being taken from them. She said her mother passed away in November, and she and her brother would often drive by her house.
One time when they did, they encountered a woman, now known as Barnett.
“One day when we drove by, this lady was trying to get into my mom’s house and claim that it was hers. And she showed us the deed, and we said ‘This isn’t a right deed, there’s no way my grandpa would’ve sold you this house,'” she said.
There’s only one problem though; the deed was fake.
“Quite honestly, if someone brings in a deed and it’s signed, and there’s a notary, then we legally have to file it,” said Maressa Treat, Oklahoma County Clerk.
Monhatwa said they then went back up to the county clerk’s office, saying the deed showing that her grandfather released the property to Barnett was false, and that Barnett acquired the property fraudulently.
It was explained to Barnett that the deed filed on February 23rd didn’t have a clear title, and Barnett came into the clerk’s office to file a correction deed.
Soon after, OCSO was contacted. Deputies questioned Barnett and later arrested her.
Treat said this happens way too often, and that it needs to be harder to become a notary public.
“I think it’s coming to ‘How do we tighten up that process?’ It really shouldn’t be that easy to become a notary. Because you’re signing really, really important documents and so, I think that’s one piece of this big problem out there,” she said.
Treat said the Oklahoma County Clerk’s office is suggesting residents sign up for their property alerts system on their website to look out for possible fraudulent activity.
Read the entire article at the following website link:
Woman accused of trying to steal deceased homeowner’s property with fake deed
How a Moat Title Security Can Help?
This article details some common themes in title fraud including targeting properties that have no liens or mortgages. The fraudulent activity is often the same, forge and record a deed into the criminal’s name (or an identity that the criminal has previously stolen) and either mortgage or resell the property. In this case, the fraudster listed and sold the properties at below market prices. Interestingly, the authorities suggested periodically checking your property in the public records to affirm that the property is in your name, much like checking your credit.
So, what would a Moat Title Security Co. Notice of Title Freeze (NOTF) do in this situation? If a NOTF was placed in the public records for each of the properties that were attacked in this article, a) the fraudster, in his search for properties without existing liens and mortgages, and upon seeing the NOTF in the records, would likely have been deterred from making the attack in the first place and would have simply targeted another property without a NOTF, and b) if the fraudster attacked the properties with a NOTF in the public records the legitimate owners would be in a much stronger position to more quickly and with less cost repair and restore their title in a Quiet Title action given the NOTF was not released of record prior to recording the fraudulent deed. Finally, it is likely that the closings of the resales would have failed as well as the title company conducting the closing would have searched and reviewed the title chain leading up to the fraudulent resale and discovered the recorded NOTF had not been properly released by the prior (legitimate) owner.
A NOTF is similar to a credit freeze at the credit agencies – it is designed to freeze a property title from all future recordings without the owners express and recorded consent which is described in the NOTF and performed by the owner as a Title Unfreeze and Release to allow legitimate business transactions to occur. Much like unfreezing your credit if you are in need of a new credit card or loan.
Learn more about title fraud and Moat Title Security Co’s Notice of Title Freeze at moattitlesecurity.com and follow Moat Title Security Co. on Facebook.
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