Family member (let’s call them Frank) was scammed AGAIN. They were recently scammed while in Asia using LINE app. Came back to US, and scammer message again threatening to take Frank’s house he lives in. Frank is refusing to tell anyone what information was given. All we know is that a bank account number was given, and that he wired money to scammer twice: once for the “good investment” and second time after house threat.
Frank’s name is on my house’s title, along with myself. They do not live in my house. I have payed mortgage the entire time, and entire purchase process & credit check was done through me.
My question is: what kind of information would the scammer need to have to actually be able to take my home, which his name is on?
If only a bank account number was given, I feel like the scammer’s threat was empty, and that Frank wired extra money after an empty threat. Am I right?
Family member scammed for the third/fourth time. Their name is on my house I live in and pay for. Can scammers get at my house?
byu/gidgeteering inpersonalfinance
Posted by gidgeteering
4 Comments
Why are you paying for a house Frank is in the title for? It is a bad situation all around
Only person getting scammed is you for paying for a house thats not yours.
See if Frank will Quit Claim (if possible) title to you and your concerns are over.
A house cannot “taken” using private information given over the phone. In order to claim ownership of your home, a scammer would have to file fraudulent paperwork with your county, and transfer the deed to themselves.
In order to actually take possession of your house without permission from the owners, they would need to go to court for some reason, and be given possession by the court.
If you think Frank might try to sell or give away the home without telling you, then you need to hire a lawyer and discuss options for removing Frank from the title and ways to protect against that in the meantime.