MUNCIE, Ind. (WISH) — A Delaware County jury on Wednesday convicted a Muncie man after he recorded a fraudulent property deed, the prosecutor said. Phoenix Mathias Hile, 27, was convicted of six low- and mid-level felonies, including fraud, attempted theft, forgery, and counterfeiting. An investigator with the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office determined Hile was found in a barn on other people’s property that he had fraudulently acquired, and had documents created to portray him as the property’s owner. Hile had also entered the motor vehicle of another person while in the commission of his crimes. His sentencing was set for 9 a.m. May 27 in Delaware Circuit Court 1. According to the FBI, property and mortgage fraud is the fastest-growing white-collar crime in the United States. Prosecutor Eric M. Hoffman said a fraudulent deed can make it appear as if someone owns a home, allowing them to use it as collateral on a mortgage or attempt to sell it. This type of fraud can involve forging signatures with a fake notary or using fraudulent power of attorney documents. Such acts can lead to property owners losing their property, money and peace of mind, with devastating consequences for all parties in a real estate transaction. To help residents protect themselves, the Delaware County Recorder’s office offers a free Property Fraud Alert system. This service allows property owners to monitor their name within the Recorder’s office for possible fraudulent recordings. The Property Fraud Alert program provides notifications via email, text or phone call if a document including a registered name is recorded. This system acts as an early warning for property owners to take action if they detect fraudulent activity. Although it does not prevent fraud, it enables quick response. If alerted to a fraudulent action, property owners should act quickly, as a court can challenge and reverse a fraudulent transfer to restore the property to its original owner and perpetrators can face civil or criminal penalties. For information, call the Delaware County Recorder’s office at 765-747-7804. Scammers target Indiana homeowners with fake mortgage-relief services ...read more read less