Posted by Robert/VA on 8/31/09 9:56pm
Msg #302427

Alert - Deed of Trust was altered...Fraud?!

I visited my local county courthouse's deed room last week, to look up and print copies of the land records of MY property in Virginia recorded in My name...such as my Deeds of Trust... (Mortgages... in most states)...and lo and behold.. In the list I saw MY name as a "Trustee" on someone elses loan!

Upon research, I did see that I was the Notary on this particular loan refinace closing, and that I sent the loan docs to the title company. But when I brought up the DOT on the screen at the County, I saw that the title company, on page 1 of the DOT, had stricken their pre-printed company name as Trustee, and printed MY name...AND home address....as the Trustee. And this all was done after the loan package was delivered!

I have called the Tiltle Company...for the last 4 days....to explain what & why....but have not heard back yet.

I think I will now call my County...to report this FRAUD.

I no way am I ever to be a Trustee on anyone's Mortgage...BUT WORSE YET...this title company altered the documents AFTER receiving them!

BTW - I have also brought up on-line the loans I have Notarized...and have seen quite a few other alterations on the Notarial language on the DOT...(such as adding....like they are printing in my writing..."married man"....AFTER i have returned the loan package!

Scary stuff...??!!

Reply by Jim/AL on 8/31/09 10:20pm
Msg #302429

Robert, it is good practice that I learned in this forum to put a line or something after the printed names in the ack. so someone does not add after the fact. This is what I do.

John H. Smith and Jane Smith <----------------------------------------------------------------------

I also strike through and initial marital status since I am attesting to their identity and have no way of knowing marital status.

If it says
John H Smith and Jane Smith, husband and wife.

I would cross through the huband and wife part and add a line to the end of printed area.

Cannot take credit for it, but been doing it ever since I read it here.

Reply by Michelle/AL on 8/31/09 10:20pm
Msg #302430

This is incredible. Robert, I hope you are mistaken. I'm

not suggesting that you aren't telling the truth, I just don't want to believe that what you found was done intentionally. This is the third time in as many weeks that someone has posted here about noticing docs being altered after the closing. It's enough for me to want to do some checking of my own work.

I can so understand your anger about this. Please keep us posted on what happens next.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 8/31/09 10:20pm
Msg #302431

I'd be sending them a copy of the altered document with a letter telling them to correct it immediately....with a copy to the regulating agency for the state where the title company is located...

Who is this title company??

Reply by Robert/VA on 9/1/09 12:04am
Msg #302433

The Title Company that has avoided my repeated phone calls over the last 4 days...is
TITLE DIRECT, 177 N. Main Street, Suite 250, Plymouth, Michigan 48170.

I will be notifying the Lender of this loan, AMERIGROUP MORTGAGE CORPORATION, in ST. PETERSBURG, FLORIDA, today of this fraudently recorded transaction.

Along with the Hanover County, Virginia, Courthouse Recorder of Deeds..........

Unbelievable...!!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/1/09 12:46am
Msg #302434

I think that's the most flagrant alteration I've heard of! I hate to even think what their reasons were...

Reply by GA/Atty on 9/1/09 3:23am
Msg #302436

Is it normal for title companies to act as Trustee in VA?

Or elsewhere, for that matter?

Reply by BobbiCT on 9/1/09 6:38am
Msg #302439

Robert, notify your ...

Send a copy of this to

1. Your State Attorney General's office. When you call, get a fax number and name of an attorney that handles mortgage fraud issues. (They LOVE this stuff.)

2. Call your state banking commission and get a name and fax #. The AG's office may be able to give you a number.

The key is to QUICKLY be able to fax the altered recorded document as rock solid evidence of what was done. It's rolling one small pebble like this from the bottom of the hill that begins to take down the whole mountain.

Reply by MW/VA on 9/1/09 10:27am
Msg #302456

Unbelievable!!!! I know they do a lot after the fact and we can't control how they use the Limited Power of Attorney for corrections. Having your name appear as Trustee is another matter. I'm sure you're very upset. I would follow all the suggestions given here, and also contact the SOC about the violation of your commission. We are impartial 3rd parties, and that wouldn't apply in the case of a Trustee. If it were me I would also contact an attorney & maybe consider a civil suit for damages.
Of course, I can't give legal advice--yadayadayada.

Reply by jojo_MN on 9/1/09 11:47am
Msg #302473

I'm not an attorney either; however, we aren't signing the Limited Power of Attorney, so they shouldn't be able to correct or change anything in our notorial block. Please correct me if I'm wrong.

Reply by dickb/wi on 9/1/09 8:25pm
Msg #302531

not only are u right but.....

the notarial block is the realm of the notary .......it is not for the document maker to fill in.....it is a notary's testimony under oath that what is in the notary block is true!!!!.....like some of the others i cross out anything that is in a pre printed notary block except the names as i have identified them.......most lenders and title co's i dare say, don't realize that the notary block is not a part of thier document but a document unto it's self.........where ever there is a blank space after the names are entered i draw a line so it would signify that nothing else belons in there......on a mortgage or dot i also draw a diagonal line through the witness area and the excess borrower lines so that nothing can be added there........altho that is on there doc it is a recomendation of our sos to do so......not an atty blah blah blah......jmho.....