R
eal‑estate fraud is spreading across the Northeast, the FBI reports, prompting Maine legislators to act. A new commission will investigate deed fraud, meeting Monday morning at 10 a.m. in Augusta’s State House. The group will collect data on how often the scheme occurs, review existing educational resources, and assess outreach efforts to curb it. Deed fraud occurs when imposters pose as Maine landowners to sell vacant parcels, often orchestrated by overseas criminals who are hard to prosecute. The commission will also propose new educational campaigns, and the public is invited to attend the session.