Authorizing the Committee on Law and Government to conduct a full and comprehensive investigation into the recent outbreak of property theft in Philadelphia in which scam-artists have been forging deed transfers and fraudulently selling real property to unsuspecting buyers.

WHEREAS, A new real estate sales swindle has recently been occurring in significant numbers in Philadelphia involving forged deeds to non-existent buyers, and the resale of these stolen properties to third parties; and

WHEREAS, These fraudulent deeds are recorded by the Philadelphia Records Department without verification of signatures or identities of the alleged buyers or sellers; and

WHEREAS, A variety of steps have been suggested to help prevent this rash of property thefts from continuing such as requiring the personal appearance by the seller at the time of deed recording, increasing sanctions against notaries failing to obtain valid proof of identity, and conducting a review of all notary, buyer and seller signatures to assure that they are legible and valid; and

WHEREAS, Some of the most vulnerable citizens of our City are being victimized; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Law and Government is hereby authorized to conduct a full and comprehensive investigation into the recent outbreak of property theft in Philadelphia which scam-artists have been forging deed transfers and fraudulently selling real property to unsuspecting buyers.

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