An Arizona woman tried to purchase a home, only to learn a “door-knocker” had defrauded the original owners, leading to a lien on the property.
In a now-removed video, Gabby Gilbertt (@gabbygilbertt) explained she has 24 hours to decide whether to sue over the situation.
“I have 24 hours to decide if I want to sue for [a] specific [housing purchase],” she said. “I was in contract to purchase a house in Arizona, and on the day of closing, I get a call from the title company letting me know that the attorney general’s office recorded a lien on the property, and I could no longer purchase [it].”
Gilbertt said the person behind the fraud had been “defrauding a bunch of people, [buying] their house for less than it was worth.”
“Their home would be worth $200,000 [in 2016], [and] he was purchasing them for $40,000,” she said. “It’s just scamming them, pretending to be there to help them with a financial bind.”
What is a lien and how does it affect homebuying?
A property lien is “a legal notice that’s put on file as the consequence of an unpaid debt.” Liens can come from unpaid taxes or bills and typically mean the seller doesn’t have a clear, transferable title. That blocks most property sales. With an unresolved lien, it is extremely difficult to close on a home—which ended Gilbertt’s deal.
What’s a door-knocker?
A door-knocker can refer to a solicitor who goes door to door trying to convince homeowners to sell. Some use manipulative tactics to target people in financial distress, and others convince people to purchase properties they don’t actually own. In this case, the “door-knocker” allegedly convinced a homeowner to sell for far less than the property’s value.
A door-knocker may lie about purchase terms, provide false information or even forge paperwork to secure a sale.
The attorney general’s office likely became aware of the situation after victims came forward. Officials then filed a judgment lien against the property, preventing Gilbertt from buying it.
What should Gilbertt do?
Many commenters urged her to get legal advice.
“Only consult an attorney. Hard place to be in. Sucks. Good luck!” one wrote.
An attorney could help Gilbertt recover any money she already spent on the purchase, along with additional costs or damages.
The Mary Sue has reached out to Gilbertt via TikTok direct message for comment.
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