Deed Fraud Prevention Commission chaired by Sen. Ingwersen holds its first meeting

AUGUSTA — On Monday, Sept. 29, Sen. Henry Ingwersen, D-Arundel, chaired the first meeting of the Legislature’s Commission to Recommend Methods for Preventing Deed Fraud in the State. In August, Senate President Mattie Daughtry, D-Brunswick, appointed Sen. Ingwersen to chair the Commission.

According to the FBI, deed fraud occurs when criminals forge documentation of a property transfer and “then sell either the vacant land or home, take out a mortgage on it, or even rent it out to make a profit, forcing the real owners to head to court to reclaim their property.” In the first meeting, the Commission discussed what constitutes deed fraud, how it occurs and what Maine’s existing laws and practices are when it comes to preventing fraud.

“With the rise in deed fraud, it is critical that we take action to protect Mainers, especially those who have worked hard and lived in their homes for decades, from predatory scammers,” said Sen. Ingwersen. “I am determined, through this commission, that we develop a full understanding of the problem and then propose protections for the next session. Our first meeting was productive, and I look forward to the next one.”

Commission members representing licensed realtors, title attorneys, registrars of deeds and the Secretary of State’s office explained the duties and practices involved in property sales in Maine, including identity verification, notarization, the scope of title insurance and recording of deeds. They also spoke of their experiences and perspectives of deed fraud in Maine.

The Commission is tasked with gathering information on the practice and prevalence of deed fraud and reviewing any currently available educational materials regarding the prevention of deed fraud in Maine. 

In upcoming meetings, the Commission will further review current practices, like identity verification, and state laws, such as civil remedies and criminal penalties currently on the books. It will also examine ways to mitigate the fraudulent listing of homes for rent and the use of artificial intelligence for deed fraud. Eventually, the Commission will provide a report to the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee.

To follow along with the work of the Commission or to subscribe for notifications and updates, go to legislature.maine.gov/commission-to-recommend-methods-for- preventing-deed-fraud-in-the-state. A recording of the meeting is available at legislature.maine.gov/Audio/#43.

The Commission will next meet at 10 a.m. on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. It will take place in the Legislature’s Judiciary Committee Room (Room 438) at the State House in Augusta. Members of the public are welcome to attend in person. They can also tune in online at legislature.maine.gov/Audio/#43. 

Sen. Ingwersen sponsored LD 353, the legislation that established the Commission. It received unanimous, bipartisan support in the Judiciary Committee and in the full Senate and House. Gov. Janet T. Mills signed it on July 1.

Sen. Henry Ingwersen is currently serving his second term in the Maine Senate. He is the Senate chair of the Legislature’s Health and Human Services Committee. He also serves on the Legislature’s Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry Committee. He represents Senate District 32, which includes Arundel, Biddeford, Dayton, Hollis and Lyman.

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