Reps. Cleaver, Evans Applaud HUD Efforts to Raise Awareness of Deed Fraud During Fraud Awareness Month

Press Release

During Fraud Awareness Month and International Fraud Awareness Week, U.S. Representatives Emanuel Cleaver, II (D-MO) and Dwight Evans (D-PA) applauded the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Office of Inspector General for releasing a bulletin to raise awareness about deed fraud, including a hotline where Americans can report information about fraudulent schemes related to HUD supported housing. Fraud Awareness Month is a HUD-wide initiative that aims to educate and encourage communication about preventing fraud, waste, abuse and mismanagement and to highlight the many resources available to help combat fraud.

"I'm pleased that the Biden Administration and HUD have heard our calls for additional focus on this incredibly burdensome scam being perpetrated against Americans in communities across the country," said Congressman Cleaver. "In honor of Fraud Awareness Month and International Fraud Awareness Week, I'm proud to stand with Representative Evans, Secretary Fudge, Inspector General Oliver Davis, and the Biden Administration to continue to raise awareness about these fraudulent schemes so that hardworking families can better protect themselves. As Congressman Evans and I work to build consensus on federal legislation that will crack down on scam artists and strengthen protections for homeowners, it's important that the Administration continue to track data that will better inform Congress during the legislative process--and that's why I want to highlight the hotline that Americans can call to report relevant information they may have."

Congressman Evans said, "I welcome this action by the Biden administration, led by our former congressional colleague Secretary Fudge and Inspector General Davis. This has been a huge issue in Philadelphia. We also need action from the congressional side, which is why I'm co-leading the Good DEED Act with Congressman Cleaver. Tangled titles prevent families -- including many African American families -- from accumulating and transferring generational wealth, or even receiving help fixing up their homes."

"One of my top priorities is to pursue all available remedies against bad actors who commit deed fraud and bring justice for people impacted by this fraud scheme," said Housing and Urban Development Inspector General Rae Oliver Davis.

In September, following reports of deed fraud in Jackson County, MO, Congressman Cleaver and Jackson County Executive Frank White, Jr. sounded the alarm on deed fraud crimes being perpetrated against homeowners in the county in an effort to raise awareness and protect homeowners. Last month, Reps. Cleaver and Evans introduced the Good DEED Act, legislation that would establish the first federal definition of deed fraud, increase penalties for criminals, create a federal grant program to assist law enforcement and local government with tracking and combating the practice, and expand access to legal services for victims. Additionally, Congressman Cleaver held a roundtable discussion with County Executive White, members of the Kansas City Police Department, and victims of deed fraud from Missouri to highlight the dangers of these scams, how to report and remedy the situation if one has fallen victim, and what kind of legislation is needed locally, statewide, and federally to put an end to the practice.

The official bulletin on deed fraud from the Housing and Urban Development Office of Inspector General is available here.

Americans can report fraud schemes involving public housing or other HUD-funded government programs or benefits, by contacting the HUD OIG Hotline at 1-800-347-3735 or online here.

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