Woman Accused of Deed Fraud for a $4 Million Home in Raleigh, North Carolina

Dawn Mangum, a woman in Raleigh, North Carolina, is accused of fraudulently obtaining the deed to a $4 million home and now faces serious criminal charges.

The investigation began after Craig Adams, the homeowner, filed a complaint upon realizing he almost lost his house.

Mr. Adams explained that one day, while reviewing some documents, he discovered that his 8,300-square-foot property was no longer under his name. Instead, it was now under Ms. Mangum’s name, who had allegedly transferred the deed to a trust she controlled.

In a previous interview, Ms. Mangum claimed she acted within the law and believed the property was in foreclosure when she initiated the transfer. However, she said that once she realized the house was not in foreclosure, she stopped the process.
Adams told local media that he only discovered the fraudulent transfer when the management company of the gated community where the house is located asked him if he had sold it.

Mr. Adams said he immediately visited the Wake County Register of Deeds to investigate what had happened. He stated: “I found out that she filed a false deed on my house and basically tried to steal it, as there is no process to verify the legitimacy of a deed transfer. No one verifies the notary or confirms the actual owner of the property being transferred.”

Although Adams was able to prove to the Register of Deeds that he was the rightful owner of the house and that Ms. Mangum had no legal claim to it, the deed remained under the Dawn Mangum Trust. The Register of Deeds stated that there is nothing they can do to reverse it at the moment but assured that the office is taking the matter seriously and is committed to helping the homeowner within the limits of the law.

Once the fraudulent deed was discovered, the office encouraged the homeowner to file a police report. They also notified the Tax Administration to ensure no tax information was changed and contacted the Wake County Sheriff’s Office to inform them of the situation.

Since the deed has already been recorded, the Register of Deeds cannot remove it without a court order. The office is fully cooperating with law enforcement and any legal proceedings initiated by the homeowner.

To avoid a similar situation, Wake County authorities recommend registering with their office to receive fraud alerts. Additionally, some homeowners insurance companies offer fraud protection for an additional fee.

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