Dentist warns this could happen to you

A North Carolina dentist had the deed to his $4 million-plus mansion stolen from him in a shocking case of real estate fraud that leaves him in the throes of a costly legal battle to get his house back, according to a story published on September 13 in the New York Post.

Dr. Craig Adams. Image courtesy of Adams & Cheek Dentistry.

Dr. Craig Adams, of Adams & Cheek Dentistry, discovered that a stranger, Dawn Mangum, reportedly had the deed to his 8,300-sq-ft home, which is in an exclusive gated community in North Raleigh, NC, transferred without his consent or knowledge. Although Adams proved that he still owns the property via mortgage and tax records, he must hire a private attorney and spend thousands to initiate a civil suit to try and get the property, which is now up for sale for $4.25 million, back, according to the story.

The dentist purportedly only learned that Mangum filed a warranty deed claiming ownership of the home when his homeowner's association questioned him about Mangum, who was trying to get gate access to the private development.

Once these questions arose, Adams began investigating the situation. He reportedly learned that Mangum filed paperwork with the Wake County Register of Deeds, listing the property's new owner as the "Dawn Mangum Trust." These documents were approved and recorded with the county register without any further verification of their legitimacy, according to the story.

The North Carolina Register of Deeds doesn't need to validate paperwork or notaries before recording changes. Adams hopes his case will trigger legislation to change the rules in the state.

Mangum claims that she thought Adams' home was abandoned and in foreclosure and is willing to return ownership to him. But it's not that easy.

However, though the county register stated in the story that it would help the dentist in whatever way possible, it is bound by state law. The county office must legally record any deed that meets basic statutory requirements and can only remove a document with a court order. Therefore, Adams must take legal action, according to the story.