Once a building is occupied, the next step is creating a façade of legality. This is where things become more sophisticated. Fake property deeds, multiple intestate proceedings in different courts, forged sales contracts, and friendly notaries all form part of the operation.
In some cases, the illegal occupants go as far as selling off units for cash, without contracts, taxes, or transparency. This constitutes high-level real estate fraud, where unaware buyers become collateral victims.
Alarmingly, Human Rights Commissions are sometimes manipulated to shield these operations. The invaders frame themselves as “residents” or “victims of displacement,” using illegally obtained videos and documents to block evictions or delay lawsuits — often with success.
