The Ultimate Guide to Home Fraud Protection Services
If you’re looking for home fraud protection services, you’ve likely seen a variety of options, from title monitoring to broad identity theft protection. Understanding what each service does is key to choosing the right level of security for your property. This guide will break down the different types of services and what they offer.
The primary goal of any home fraud protection service is to safeguard you against deed fraud, a crime where a thief forges their way onto your home’s title to steal your equity. Three scammers just tried stealing and selling a Harlem Brownstone worth over $1M!
Type 1: Specialized Home Title Monitoring Services
These are the most focused type of home fraud protection services. Their one and only job is to monitor the public property records associated with your home’s title.
How They Work:
- 24/7 Scanning: They continuously scan the databases at your county recorder’s office.
- Instant Alerts: If a new deed, lien, or mortgage is filed against your property, they send you an immediate alert.
- Expert Support: They typically offer restoration services or legal guidance to help you recover your title if fraud occurs.
Pros: Highly specialized and focused on the direct threat to your property’s legal ownership.
Type 2: Identity Theft Protection with Title Monitoring
These are broader services (like LifeLock or Aura) whose main goal is to protect your overall identity. Some of their premium plans include home title monitoring as an added feature.
What They Offer:
- Credit report monitoring and alerts.
- Dark web scanning for your personal information.
- Home title monitoring (on higher-tier plans).
Pros: A wide net of protection for your general identity. If you are looking for an all-in-one solution for your personal data, this can be a good option. However, their focus on title protection may not be as deep as a specialist’s.
Which Home Fraud Protection Service is Right for You?
The best choice depends on your primary concern. If your main goal is to protect your single largest asset—your home—a specialized title monitoring service, like HomeLock™ provides the most direct and focused protection. If your concern is broader identity theft (credit card fraud, etc.), then a general identity protection service may be a better fit. Many homeowners find that a layered approach, using both, provides the most comprehensive security. For more details, see our comparison of HomeLock vs. LifeLock. To learn more about real estate fraud from an official source, visit the FBI’s website.