The Philly Fiasco Keeps Rolling
In a scam going back to 2017, the state of Pennsylvania has finally charged the notary at the center of the story, though more than one notary was alleged to be part of some of the transactions.
We have kept our eye on this story, following it with baited breath. The alleged actions of the notary are unconscionable and led to the loss of more than 20 loans in a scam that lasted almost a decade.
To catch up, please check out our previous stories about the Philly Fiasco. We already have three of them to get caught up on the situation. Here is our original reporting on the Philly Fiasco. Here is a follow up to the fiasco, including the state’s remedy to the issue moving forward. Finally, an aspect of the Philly Fiasco went worldwide.
The city came up with a solution called Fraud Guard. It’s website can be found here. It allows both homeowners and notaries to receive email follow ups to any change in status or signing. This allows a back up system for home owners and notaries to stay safe.
The only downside is you must sign up for this service (we understand why). How can they contact you if you don’t give your information? But, it still leaves some wiggle room for those not aware of, or signed up to Fraud Guard.
The biggest change since we last touched this subject is that the notary is not alleged to just being duped or mildly involved. They have now been identified as the ringleader, in a scam that lost owners more than twenty homes.
In 2018, staff at the city’s Department of Records noticed anomalies in deeds connected to [the notary]. In many instances, [the notary] had backdated notarized documents making it appear as though the homeowners had approved the transaction of their properties before they died, prosecutors said. Investigators also found patterns among [the notary’s] documents, such as using fraudulent stamps to indicate [they] had witnessed signatures, and some properties allegedly had been priced below market value to avoid higher tax bills.
“A notary public is supposed to be someone whose very job is to act as a gatekeeper – to prevent fraud in these cases,” Assistant DA Kimberly Esack said.
This saga has gone on for years. It took a long time to put together charges the state thinks will stick. They even have a list, and map, of the specific properties the notary is being charged with. For brevity, and to stop you from taking a nap, we will not list them all. Additionally, prosecutors said they are not done, and additional deeds are under scrutiny.
The notary has been charged with a litany of charges, totaling 31. These include conspiracy, theft by deception, identity theft, among others. They are also still chasing co-conspirators, who have yet to be identified.
While some home owners have been able to recoup their homes, others are still pending in civil court. Can you imagine being ousted for your homes and then having to take years to get it back? We mean, how long does it take to figure this out, and to dole out justice. Most importantly, getting home owners back into their homes.
As always, we’ll keep you updated as this very slow process moves along.
