Mayor Mamdani establishes Office of Deed Theft Prevention to combat property fraud
Updated
Updated · Gothamist · Apr 24
Mayor Mamdani establishes Office of Deed Theft Prevention to combat property fraud
3 articles · Updated · Gothamist · Apr 24
The new office follows Councilmember Chi Ossé’s arrest during a protest at a Bed-Stuy brownstone and will be led by attorney Peter White, focusing on Brooklyn and Queens where 517 complaints were filed last year.
The office, housed in the Department of Finance, will investigate fraud claims, halt evictions during disputes, and conduct outreach to vulnerable homeowners, especially in predominantly Black neighborhoods impacted by deed theft.
Officials cite chronic deed theft, with 3,500 complaints since 2014, prompting calls for stronger protections and legislative reforms. The initiative aims to protect generational wealth and prevent predatory practices targeting legacy homeowners.
Is a $1 million budget enough to combat NYC’s surging deed theft epidemic?
What immediate relief can homeowners expect from the city's new anti-fraud office?
The Queens DA has returned 23 homes. Can this new city-wide office replicate that success?
How will the new office distinguish complex family property feuds from criminal theft?
Could modern technology like blockchain be the key to making deed theft a crime of the past?