Elderly Georgia homeowner forced out of his house, arrested after alleged fraudster claimed ownership: ‘Made us feel like squatters’
An elderly Georgia homeowner faced eviction and arrest after an alleged scammer used fraudulent documents to claim ownership of their property in Stone Mountain, Ga., located 16 miles east of Atlanta.
Charles and Charmaine Allman, who had lived in the house for two decades, were shocked when officials informed them they no longer owned the property and had to vacate immediately. The couple described feeling like "squatters" as their belongings were thrown out like trash into the yard.
The scam involved an anonymous individual falsifying a deed and submitting it online to Dekalb County, claiming ownership of the Allmans' home. The couple grew suspicious when they received letters confirming a second mortgage, despite having no such loan.
When Charles Allman refused to leave, citing rightful ownership, he was arrested on a Criminal Trespass warrant. His wife expressed dismay at his arrest, highlighting his age of 77 and lack of alternative housing options.
Real estate attorney Richard Alembik noted the ease of forging and recording deeds due to the simplicity of e-filing. Notaries often fail to verify the identity of document submitters, exacerbating the problem of fraudulent property claims.
Even victims with evidence of rightful ownership can face eviction and fines if ordered by a judge. This issue isn't isolated, as evidenced by a recent case in Queens where a homeowner was arrested while trying to remove suspected squatters from her inherited property.
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