Oklahoma Man Accused of Trying to Claim a $5.4 Million Mansion With a Fake Deed

An Oklahoma man has been arrested after police claim he tried to claim ownership of a $5.4 million home. The man, who was identified as 29-year-old Antonio Moore, was caught on surveillance video at the County Clerk’s Office, which was then shared online.

According to a video posted by the Oklahoma County Sheriff’s Office, they were first alerted to the possible crime on Sept. 11, when they were called out to the County Clerk’s Office. The post says that the clerk was suspicious that the man was trying to file fraudulent paperwork and had rejected some of the documents. 

Sheriff’s deputies reviewed the paperwork, which included a deed claiming ownership of a sprawling Gaillardia Drive property located in Oklahoma City. In a press release, Oklahoma County Sheriff Tommie Johnson III explained that the office believed that Moore’s ultimate goal was to secure a loan against the property.

Johnson also shared some of the steps that Moore allegedly took in an attempt to get the property into his name, which he warned other homeowners to be on the lookout for.

Man Accused of Trying to Steal a $5.4 Million Home

The sheriff’s office shared a photo of the stunning 14,000-square-foot property in the video, saying that the home in question was located in a very affluent neighborhood. Johnson believes that this is why the property was targeted, since taking a loan out on such a valuable piece of real estate could allow someone to walk away with a lot of cash in the bank.

While the transfer was ultimately prevented, it could’ve ended very badly for the rightful homeowner, especially if their property was successfully used as collateral for a loan without them knowing, which could’ve led to a default on the fraudulent mortgage if they didn’t know that it was supposed to be paid.

The Homeowner Says They Were Receiving Moore’s Mail Before They Found Out About the Deed Transfer

In the video, the sheriff’s office explained that the homeowners had grown a little suspicious after Moore’s name began showing up in their mailbox. “The actual homeowner told investigators he has been receiving mail at his address in Mr. Moore’s name and that the electric service had been changed over to Mr. Moore’s name,” the video explained. “He also stated that he received a call from the Bank of Oklahoma stating someone tried to take a loan out against his house.”

Johnson said that these things “legitimize ownership,” which can make it easier for someone to commit this kind of fraud. According to Oklahoma State Courts Network, Moore was charged with forgery in the first degree and obtaining property by trick/deeption or false representation/pretense. A preliminary hearing conference is scheduled for Oct. 27.

The Sheriff Told People How to Protect Themselves 

It can be scary to think about something like this happening, but Johnson said there are a few things homeowners can do to reduce the risk of deed fraud. Some of those suggestions include signing up for property alerts that will notify homeowners when new documents are recorded. 

 Another suggestion says to pay attention to unexpected mail that is addressed to a stranger, especially if it’s from a utility company or government agency. Fortunately, Rocket Mortgage says that this type of theft is typically very rare. That being said, the company does note that scammers are always updating their approaches, and AI-generated documents can make it easier for them to conduct these kinds of crimes, making it important to follow some of those proactive steps shared by Johnson.