TAMPA - Deed fraud continues to rise across Florida, prompting lawmakers to introduce new legislation aimed at stopping scammers before they can steal homes.

Miami Gardens Sen. Shevrin Jones has filed Senate Bill 116, which would strengthen protections during property transfers and make it harder for fraudsters to falsify documents.

What's happening:

According to the FBI, deed fraud is the fastest growing form of white-collar crime, often targeting older adults, people living with dementia, or the families of recently deceased homeowners. Scammers frequently focus on vacant or unmonitored properties, selling them or taking out loans before the rightful owner realizes what happened.

The crimes often go unnoticed for months or even years and can be incredibly costly to combat.

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