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Title scam leads to $190K loss for Macomb County woman

Woman loses life savings amid condo purchase

NEW BALTIMORE, Mich. – A Macomb County woman was the target of a title-related scam that wound up losing her tens of thousands of dollars.

Hank Winchester heard about Deborah Crowley’s heartbreaking situation during a recent visit to the Anchor Bay Pit Stop Diner in New Baltimore. Crowley told Hank she thought she was wiring money to a title company to buy a condo, but ended up sending the money to scammers instead.

The ordeal wiped out Crowley’s life savings -- $190,000 -- and left her homeless.

---> Related: House theft scam -- How criminals target homeowners with fake deeds

Crowley planned to purchase a condo in Chesterfield Township for about $190,000. When the deal was done and the papers were signed, she received an email from what she thought was the title company.

All the information was laid out before closing on the condo. She believed the email was real, but when she arrived to close on her condo -- using every dollar of her life savings -- she was stunned. Her money was in the hands of a scammer and she left without the keys, without the condo, and without her money.

Crowley’s attorney said the title company does not have insurance to cover this type of scam. Hank reached out to the title company on her behalf, and was told an offer was made to cover a portion of her loss -- but it’s not enough for Crowley.

Now, Crowley wants everyone to know what happened to her to prevent it from ever happening to anyone else.

You can watch Hank Winchester’s full story in the video player above.


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About the Author
Hank Winchester headshot

Hank Winchester is Local 4’s Consumer Investigative Reporter and the head of WDIV’s “Help Me Hank” Consumer Unit. Hank works to solve consumer complaints, reveal important recalls and track down thieves who have ripped off people in our community.

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