A
Houston woman, Alba Martinez, was caught on camera being turned away from the Harris County Clerk's Office while trying to transfer a deed, highlighting an ongoing real estate fraud investigation that has allegedly victimized dozens of property owners. Martinez and her husband Jarin face accusations of orchestrating a sophisticated scheme involving at least 37 properties, according to a lawsuit filed by the Harris County Attorney's Office.

    The couple allegedly forged documents and claimed ownership of properties before selling them to unsuspecting buyers, often targeting cash buyers who lack real estate expertise and have limited English proficiency. They are estimated to have made tens of thousands of dollars off the scheme, but no criminal charges have been filed yet.

    A family discovered their generational property had been sold without their knowledge when they noticed a new fence going up at the house in 2023. The home was unknowingly sold by Jarin Martinez for $53,000 through forged signatures on deed documents. The family is now fighting to get their property back and has filed their own lawsuit.

    County investigators discovered the operation used fraudulent notary stamps and fictitious notaries. A judge signed a temporary restraining order blocking Martinez from filing any more fraudulent documents. Investigators believe there could be additional victims, and they are continuing to dig for more information.

    The county's civil lawsuit aims to stop the alleged fraud, but it's unclear if they'll be able to get restitution for victims who may still need to hire private attorneys to reverse wrongful deed transfers.