Joined by colleagues and advocates in Southeast Queens, Sen. Zellnor Myrie (D-Central Brooklyn) on Thursday urged New Yorkers to protect themselves from deed theft scams this holiday season.

Myrie said deed theft is a crime where homeowners can unknowingly lose the title to their property, and that longtime Black and brown homeowners are especially vulnerable.

Myrie, representative for the 20th Senate District in Brooklyn, whose grandmother hailed from Jamaica, was joined by Assembly Member Alicia Hyndman (D-Queens) and Sen. Leroy Comrie (D-Queens), along with Lori Miller of Neighborhood Housing Services of Jamaica and Jay Inwald of Legal Services NYC.

“Deed theft is a pernicious crime that robs families of the wealth they’ve built and passed down for generations,” Myrie said. ‘Particularly in Black communities where property values have increased in recent years, scammers and fraudsters are on the lookout for ways to steal titles to our homes.

“While we recently passed new laws I sponsored to make deed theft easier to prosecute, all homeowners should be aware of these types of crimes and take action to protect themselves,” he added.

“Deed theft has been a persistent issue for homeowners in Southeast Queens and nearby communities, threatening the legacy of families who have invested so much into their homes,” Hyndman said.

“This year, we took meaningful steps to combat this injustice,” she added. “The State budget officially defines deed theft as a crime, limits how predatory investors can pressure homeowners to sell or take over inherited properties, and introduces stronger protections to keep New Yorkers in their homes.

“As your Assemblywoman, I urge families to use this holiday season to talk about property plans and explore resources like HOPP to safeguard their homes,” Hyndman continued. “Together, we can protect the foundation of our community and ensure every family in Southeast Queens has the support they need to maintain their homes and their future.”

“Deed thefts, partition scams and myriad other threats to homeownership, especially in New York’s communities of color on the front lines of gentrification and historically denied access to homeownership, remain with us after all these years,” said Jay Inwald, director of litigation— Economic Justice at Legal Services NYC. “Recent legislation has made some improvements and provided some tools to seek redress and accountability for those who have already succumbed to these scams, but without enactment of the Consumer and Small Business Protection Act New York’s basic consumer protection law lags behind those of 43 other states that prohibit unfair and abusive conduct, depriving advocates seeking redress for deed theft victims of an important tool.

“Moreover, New York’s most important homeownership preservation resource and its only deed theft and scam prevention tool is the Homeowner Protection Program (‘HOPP’), the statewide network of housing counseling agencies and legal services providers representing vulnerable homeowners in every county of the state,” he added. “That program is threatened with extinction every year during the Albany budget season, but enactment of the HOPP Codification Act recently passed with overwhelming support in the legislature (S7297C/A7636-C) would go a long way towards ensuring that the HOPP program remains a permanent feature of New York’s laws addressing scams and other threats to homeownership across the state.”

“Deed theft is an insidious crime that preys on our most vulnerable homeowners, robbing them of their hard-earned generational wealth,” said New York City Council Majority Whip Selvena N. Brooks-Powers, whose mother hails from Jamaica. “This issue disproportionately impacts Black and brown communities, including Southeast Queens, where families have built strong legacies rooted in homeownership.

“With new laws in place to strengthen protections and prosecute these crimes, it’s more important than ever to educate our neighbors about the warning signs and resources available to prevent deed theft,” she added. “I am proud to join my colleagues and advocates in standing up for homeowners and ensuring they are equipped with the tools to safeguard their properties and futures.”

“Deed theft is a silent epidemic that erodes the generational wealth and stability of countless families in Southeast Queens,” said Council Member Dr. Nantasha Williams. “As a community particularly susceptible to these predatory schemes, we must take decisive action. That’s why I’m proud to introduce legislation like Intro 1086, which mandates timely notification of deed and mortgage-related filings to property owners.