Officials launch new fraud detection program

WEST CHESTER » Fraudulent scams committed against seniors and disabled Pennsylvanians is an annual $1.2 billion criminal enterprise carried out by merciless predators preying on the Commonwealth’s most vulnerable citizens.

The scams come in many forms ranging from telemarketing cons to outright theft of home equity and personal property. The scammers include total strangers, family members, trusted caregivers, legal guardians and more.

One particularly egregious type of crime targeting incapacitated seniors and disabled home owners involves the fraudulent transfer of their property without the informed consent of the property owner, their legal guardian or the court system that is empowered to protect them.

In Chester County, a new intergovernmental pilot program designed to protect incapacitated seniors and disabled residents from falling victim to the fraudulent transfer of their

property is being launched by the Chester County Recorder of Deeds, the Chester County Register of Wills and Orphan’s Court.

The county officials are coordinating efforts to allow their offices to track and compare county guardianship orders with proposed deeds to help identify if an incapacitated person’s property is transferred illegally. Data obtained from this pilot program will help quantify elder abuse in Chester County and will be shared with all relevant agencies to help protect potential victims.

According to Chester County Recorder of Deeds Chris Pielli, despite a previous

fraud initiative, his office continues to experience questionable real estate transactions that may be taking advantage of incapacitated property owners.

“We know for a fact this type of fraud has been attempted in Chester County, but because systems were not in place to identify property owners who have legal guardianships, we do not know the scope and frequency of property transfer fraud here. The current fraud initiative in place does not adequately address this type of fraud. Our pilot program is designed to compile data we can provide the courts and

other officials empowered to address this problem,” Pielli said.

Chester County Register of Wills Michele Vaughn, pointed out that property transfer fraud in Philadelphia reached epidemic levels moving the Philadelphia City Council to pass legislation authorizing the Philadelphia Records Department to require identification and proof that property transfer requests are legitimate.

“We have to take the intergovernmental steps needed to safeguard to the property and rights of people who need our protection the most here in our county,” Vaughn said.