Squatters took over a Phoenix home and sold it for $200K — without the owners knowing: ‘Feels so surreal’

New York Post - Mar 19th, 2025

D’Andrea Turner was shocked to discover that her Phoenix home was fraudulently sold by squatters Aaron Polmanteer and Lledera Hollen. Posing as Turner and her ex-husband, they forged documents and sold the property to real estate investors for $200,000. The fraud was uncovered when they attempted to cash checks in the Turners' names. Although the home has been returned to Turner, the incident underscores a rising trend in title fraud, where criminals exploit systemic loopholes to sell properties without owners' knowledge.

Title fraud, particularly affecting vacant or mortgage-free properties, is a growing threat. It involves forging ownership documents to illegally transfer property titles. Homeowners are urged to monitor their property records and set up alerts for any suspicious activity. Counties like Maricopa offer notifications for document filings, providing early warnings of potential fraud. Title insurance can also protect against financial loss from fraudulent claims. The Turners' case highlights the need for vigilance and legal safeguards to combat this emerging crime.

Phoenix Title Fraud D’andrea Turner Aaron Polmanteer Lledera Hollen Real Estate Fraud Property Theft

Story submitted by Fairstory

RATING

6.4

Moderately Fair

Read with skepticism

The news story provides a compelling account of a title fraud incident, highlighting the personal impact on the victim and offering valuable advice for homeowners. It excels in clarity and public interest, effectively explaining complex concepts and engaging readers. However, its accuracy is somewhat hindered by a lack of corroborative sources and specific details that require verification. The story's balance could be improved by including perspectives from other stakeholders involved in the incident. While timely and relevant, the article's impact may be limited without broader media coverage or policy discussions. Overall, the story serves as a useful introduction to the issue of title fraud but would benefit from additional depth and verification to enhance its reliability and influence.

Accuracy

The story accurately reports the incident involving D'Andrea Turner and the illegal actions of squatters who took over her home and sold it without her knowledge. The description of events is consistent with known methods of title fraud, such as forging documents and impersonating homeowners. However, specific details, such as the exact method of document forgery, the identities of the buyers, and the legal proceedings against the squatters, require verification. The story's claim that title fraud is a growing trend also needs further evidence to support its prevalence and impact.

Balance

The story primarily presents the perspective of the victim, D'Andrea Turner, which is understandable given the personal nature of the crime. However, it lacks viewpoints from other stakeholders, such as the real estate investors who purchased the property, the title company involved, or law enforcement officials. Including these perspectives would provide a more comprehensive understanding of the incident and the systemic issues that allowed it to occur.

Clarity

The story is well-structured and uses clear language to explain a complex issue. It logically presents the sequence of events and provides definitions for key terms like 'title fraud.' The tone is neutral and informative, making the content accessible to a general audience. However, additional context about the legal process and the roles of various parties in real estate transactions could enhance understanding.

Source quality

The story cites an interview with ABC 15 Arizona, which lends some credibility to the account. However, it does not provide additional sources or corroborative evidence from law enforcement or legal documents. The reliance on a single media source without further verification from official records or statements may affect the overall reliability of the report.

Transparency

The article clearly explains the concept of title fraud and provides practical advice on how to prevent it, which enhances transparency. However, it does not disclose the methodology used to gather information about the incident or the broader claim that title fraud is increasing. A more detailed explanation of how the story was researched and any potential conflicts of interest would improve transparency.