01/06/2026
FAKE DEEDS AFTER HOMEOWNERS DIE?
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Read on to learn more about this property fraud operation recently uncovered in Altamonte Springs, Florida.
Altamonte Springs man accused of making fake deeds to sign over property after homeowners died.
BY Sarah Winkelmann Seminole County
UPDATED 5:56 PM ET Dec. 29, 2025 PUBLISHED 7:47 AM ET Dec. 29, 2025
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, Fla. — An Altamonte Springs man is accused of stealing property from homeowners who had died.
Samuel Bellamy faces multiple charges of forgery and theft. An investigation revealed Bellamy was allegedly living in one home, sold one home and had plans to sell another.
“I was appalled,” said Frank Martz, the Altamonte Springs City Manager. Martz said this case came to light because of the neighbors.
What You Need To Know
• A recent case is highlighting quitclaim deed fraud and the need to be prepared
• Three homeowners in Altamonte Springs had recently died, and their homes were allegedly signed over fraudulently
• This type of scam is not new and happens across the country
• Make sure to sign up for property fraud alerts on your county's clerk of court and comptroller's website
“We learned about this by residents who cared about these people who had passed away, alerting us that strangers started to go in and out of those homes,” Martz said.
The Altamonte Springs Police Department did not want to do an interview about the case, but the city manager shared some details.
“What happened in this case, someone forged documents, submitted them to the county, the county recorded them so it looked like there was a legitimate transfer, when it really wasn’t,” Martz said.
The police report shows that all three quitclaim deeds in the city of Altamonte Springs that listed Samuel Bellamy as the owner were fake.
All three homeowners had recently died, and investigators discovered concerning factors with how the deeds were signed over, which allowed him to take possession of the properties.
The police report mentioned similar handwriting, fake notaries and witnesses. “I would say disconcerting and disheartening," Martz said. "It is disconcerting to think of families who are grieving their loss of a loved one and also have to make sure no one is trying to steal their house."
A free service across the state allows anyone to sign up in their county for fraud alerts, so you will be notified as soon as there are any changes to a deed, mortgage or other official record.
“Hopefully, this isn’t something that is going to happen a lot exactly the way it did. Obviously this person was very bold,” said Attorney Jennifer Englert from the Orlando Law Group.
Englert said this case is extreme, but she has seen fraud on a smaller scale in her career and recommends everyone complete their estate planning.
“A lot of people don’t like to talk about it or want to deal with it, but it certainly saves everybody time and money and especially when you own property,” Englert said.
Martz credited the neighbors who saw something and said something.
“Lots of times people don’t realize the power of community and community connection and the fact that those neighbors cared about one another,” Martz said.
This type of scam is not new and happens across the country. According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Internet Crime Complaint Center, more than 58,000 victims reported $1.3 billion in losses related to real estate fraud from 2019-2023.
Help safeguard your home by signing up for a Property Alert Service provided by many Clerks and Comptrollers throughout Florida. The free service alerts property and business owners of potential instances of property fraud by notifying subscribers when a deed, mortgage, or other official record is r...
