New York City’s Register’s office recently fell victim to a bizarre hoax involving fake property deeds that purported Ivanka Trump and Hillary Clinton had joined forces in a $150 million Manhattan real estate purchase. The supposed deal involved the world’s tallest duplex condo at Central Park Tower, along with prime air and subterranean rights.
According to the fraudulent documents, Trump, Clinton, and an enigmatic figure named “Louis Reyes” acquired luxurious properties including the sprawling “Sky House” duplex spanning 11,535 square feet across the 127th and 128th floors of Central Park Tower. The listed price for this opulent residence was a staggering $150 million.
The farce was exposed when The New York Post flagged the documents, prompting their swift removal from public records. Despite lacking crucial notary signatures, the deeds had been inexplicably approved by city clerks on May 16.
The documents went as far as claiming the buyers were “relatives or former relatives” of a fictitious seller named “David Smith.” Even the University Club was mistakenly included in the transaction, referencing a past incident involving Clinton and a cell phone.
This incident highlights significant vulnerabilities in New York City’s deed verification process, especially considering ongoing investigations into thousands of fraudulent deeds over the past decade. Ryan Lavis from the city Department of Finance confirmed the error, stating, “This deed was filed in error and has been removed following a review,” emphasizing that all recordings are scrutinized for signs of fraud.
Neither the Trump Organization nor the Clinton Foundation has issued statements regarding the bizarre affair. The episode serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of bureaucratic oversight and the potential for absurdity in the realm of New York real estate transactions.
