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Rise In Cases Of Title Deeds Fraudsters Targeting Vacant Or Unoccupied Properties In Zimbabwe

2 years agoTue, 18 Jan 2022 10:24:13 GMT
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Rise In Cases Of Title Deeds Fraudsters Targeting Vacant Or Unoccupied Properties In Zimbabwe

Engineer Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi has urged members of the public who own a vacant or an unoccupied property in Zimbabwe to verify if they still own that property.

He says fraudsters have found a slot in the market and are now using technology for identity theft and then executing title deed fraud. Mutisi argues that this is mainly because some property owners are leaving their properties unattended. He said:

Title deed fraud occurs when someone steals your identity, forges your name on a title deed, and takes title to your property. While it may seem that it should be a simple matter to get your home back after becoming a victim of deed fraud, nothing in the law is very simple. The costs involved are high and it is a very stressful process.

In Zimbabwe, forged deeds and fraudulent title transfers are happening far more often than ordinary people believe. Title deed fraud is not a new idea but has been amplified by the use of new technology. This problem has been around for decades, most commonly with vacant properties and especially involving deceased property owners, but is now on the increase due to areas with a large numbers of vacant, unoccupied properties leaving property owners and investors at risk.

How does this happen?

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Here’s how it goes down: the fraudster obtains a copy of your title deed from the deeds office. Remember, a Zimbabwean title deed consists of the name of the property owner, and their national identity number. They use these details to embed them on a fake national identity (ID) card which is then produced as proof of ownership to an estate agent.

The agent’s lawyer will verify the owner of the property with the deed office when there is a request for a sale. The details of the deed and the ID details will of course be found to be identical. Using the same ID the fraudster opens a bank account which will receive the proceeds of the loot when a transaction is executed.

With the duplicate national ID and bank account now setup in the owners name, this is then used to sell the house. When the property is then sold to the new owner by the person impersonating the actual owner, the property title deed at the deeds offices are then updated making them the new legal owner. This is done without the owner of the property even knowing.

There are probably some corrupt real estate agents, lawyers and employees at the deeds office who are participants in these criminal activities.

He said those who own or are in the process of buying a property could potentially be targeted. Mutisi added the list below saying those are the most vulnerable groups. 

  • your Property is left vacant,
  • your property is rented out
  • you live overseas
  • your property does not have a mortgage against it
  • your identity has been stolen before
  • your property is not registered with the deeds office.

He concluded that clever fraudsters are able to forge documents, commit fraud, and steal the title deed to properties which they then sell.

They sometimes use their fraudulent ownership to access a lending tool and extract the home’s equity, leaving victims in debt.

By Eng Jacob Kudzayi Mutisi. You can reach him here: jkmutisi@hansole.org

More: Techzim

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