AGENCY TESTIMONY
Outreach and education initiatives to prevent deed fraud
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The City Register details the extensive outreach and education efforts undertaken by the Department of Finance to inform and empower homeowners about deed fraud prevention.
- The Department's outreach unit has reached over 100,000 taxpayers at more than 1,800 events since 2016
- Partnerships with other city agencies and elected officials to conduct housing resource fairs and town halls
- Distribution of deed fraud guides in 10 languages
- Hundreds of train-the-trainer sessions conducted for elected officials and community organizations
Colette McCain-Jacques
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The total value of these properties was in excess of $54,000,000 Our most effective enforcement tool is proactive outreach and empowerment of homeowners before they are put in a compromised situation.
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The Department of Finance's outreach unit has been informing event attendees about deed fraud and how to prevent it since early 2016.
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Their work has reached over a 100,000 taxpayers at over 1800 events.
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DAF has partnered with the Department of Aging, HPD, DCWP, for housing resource fairs to provide education for older New Yorkers, including D Theft Education.
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Agency partners, as well as elected partnerships, are the most important types of outreach the city can do.
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I would like to thank borough president Reynoso for recently inviting us to a town hall where our outreach team spoke with New Yorkers directly about how to protect themselves from deep fraud.
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In addition to the outreach team, the Office of the Taxpayers Advocate has conducted outreach events with the IRS, New York State, other government agencies, and non for profit partners on the topic of deed fraud.
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During these events, they educate tax professionals, taxpayers on the topic of deed fraud and encourage everyone to be vigilant about fraud prevention.
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During the outreach sessions, we give presentations which include a section on deed fraud and what people can do to protect their properties.
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The outreach unit has distributed tens of thousands of copies of our deed fraud guide, which is available in 10
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languages on the Department of Finance's web website.
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Over the past few years, the outreach unit has distributed tens of thousands of copies of our deed fraud guide, which is available in 10 languages on the Department of Finance's web website.
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Over the past few years,
Colette McCain-Jacques
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the outreach site.
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Over the past few years, the outreach unit has also conducted hundreds of train the trainer sessions at which they educate elected officials and community based organizations on the topic of deed fraud.
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This is an ongoing effort, and we encourage members interested to contact us to schedule a session.
