Jalisco state authorities have successfully raided and secured a clandestine office in the La Estancia neighborhood of Zapopan, which was being used as the base for a sophisticated real estate fraud operation. The operation was exposed after a victim reported a suspicious property purchase in the municipality of Tlajomulco, which she had acquired for 640,000 pesos back in 2022. The perpetrators had posed as representatives of a notary office based in Tapalpa to finalize the transaction, providing the buyer with fraudulent deeds.
The scam was uncovered when the victim was later summoned by the Public Ministry, as the original owner of the property had filed a report claiming he had been dispossessed of his home. Upon investigation, authorities discovered that the documents provided to the buyer contained fake signatures and legal irregularities, including false information regarding the property’s mortgage status. Crucially, the notary public whose name was used in the documents had been permanently disqualified from his position by state authorities in late 2023.
During the search, officers recovered a significant amount of incriminating evidence, including seals from five different notary offices, official letterheads, electronic devices, a firearm, cash, and extensive records detailing multiple fraudulent transactions. Investigators noted that the office possessed documentation linked to notaries from other states as well, suggesting a widespread criminal network.
The State Prosecutor has urged citizens to verify the legality of any property transaction by consulting the State Public Property Registry and the Jalisco College of Notaries. Officials strongly recommend utilizing only registered notary offices, whose information is publicly verifiable, to avoid falling victim to similar criminal schemes. Investigations remain ongoing to locate and prosecute those responsible for the fraud, usurpation of functions, and other related crimes.
Source: https://www.informador.mx
