Property fraud (including deed fraud and “home title theft”) is usually a paperwork crime: criminals exploit public records, stolen identity data, and gaps in notifications to record a fraudulent deed or lien. That can create serious financial and legal complications—even if you’re still living in the home.¹²

This guide explains practical, homeowner-friendly steps to reduce your risk, spot red flags early, and respond quickly if you suspect something is wrong.

What property fraud looks like

Most property-fraud schemes revolve around impersonation and recording. A bad actor pretends to be the owner (or an authorized representative), signs forged documents, and files them in local land records so the fraudulent paperwork appears “official.”¹³

Common patterns include:

• Deed fraud / quitclaim deed fraud: A forged deed is recorded to transfer ownership (often using a quitclaim deed format).¹
• Unauthorized liens or loans: A fraudulent filing creates a lien or attempts to borrow against the property’s equity using fake documentation.³
• Sale or rental scams: Once records look changed (even temporarily), criminals may try to sell or “rent” the property to unsuspecting third parties.¹⁴

If you want quick definitions for key terms used in this article, DomiDocs’ glossary entries on property fraud, deed fraud, deed theft, and title insurance are helpful starting points.

How to protect your property from fraud

Protecting your property from fraud is about reducing easy opportunities and increasing early detection. The steps below work together—pick what you can do today, then build a routine you can sustain.

1) Set up land-record alerts (if your county offers them)

Many counties and registers of deeds offer alert programs that notify you if documents are recorded under your name or parcel. If your county has this option, sign up and ensure your contact info is current. However, it’s important to understand the limits of these alerts: they are typically reactive, triggering only after a document is recorded, and many rely on name-based matching, which can miss activity involving trusts, LLCs, spelling variations, or vacant parcels. Alerts can help with awareness, but they should be treated as a baseline safeguard, not a comprehensive solution.³

2) Check your property record periodically

Even with alerts—which may miss certain filings or arrive only after damage is done—it’s smart to spot-check your county’s public record for your property’s deed, current owner name(s), and any new liens. A quick periodic review can help catch errors or fraud early.¹³

3) Lock down identity pathways criminals use

Property fraud often overlaps with identity theft. Strengthen the basics:

• Protect key documents (ID scans, closing paperwork, prior deeds) and avoid sharing them unless required.
• Use strong account security for email and financial accounts (unique passwords + multi-factor authentication).
• Reduce impersonation risk by limiting where personal details are publicly posted.

The FTC specifically warns consumers to be skeptical of marketing claims about “title lock” services and to focus on practical prevention and early detection strategies.²

4) Secure your mail and address changes

Mail theft and unauthorized address changes can hide warning letters (like tax notices, loan mailers, or delinquency alerts). Consider these safeguards:

• Use USPS Informed Delivery (where available) to see what mail is expected.
• Consider a locked mailbox or a PO box for high-risk situations (vacant or second homes).
• Promptly investigate missing bills, tax notices, or official letters.

5) Keep your “proof packet” organized

If you ever need to dispute a fraudulent filing, speed matters. Keep a simple folder (digital and/or physical) with:

• Closing statement (settlement statement)
• Recorded deed (or recording information)
• Title insurance policy (if you have one)
• Mortgage statements (if applicable)
• Property tax bills and proof of payment
• Government-issued ID copies stored securely

6) Be cautious with notarization and signing requests

Many deed-fraud schemes rely on forged signatures or manipulated notarizations. Don’t sign unfamiliar property documents under pressure, and verify who is requesting them and why. Industry groups and consumer advocates have emphasized strengthening identity verification and notarization practices as part of deed fraud prevention.³

7) Use reputable professionals for transactions

When buying, selling, refinancing, or transferring property, work with reputable, licensed professionals (real estate attorney, title company, and/or agent, as appropriate). This doesn’t eliminate risk, but it reduces exposure to sloppy or fraudulent paperwork pathways.³⁴

High-risk situations to take extra precautions

Certain circumstances tend to attract fraud attempts because they’re easier to exploit or less likely to be noticed quickly:

• Vacant homes, second homes, and rentals: Fewer eyes on the property and mail flow makes fraud easier to hide.⁴
• Mortgage-free properties: Fewer monthly statements can mean fewer routine checks that would surface unusual activity.⁴
• Elderly owners or estates: Criminals may assume slower response times or less frequent monitoring.⁴
• Recent public listings or probate activity: Widely available data can increase impersonation attempts.

If any of these apply, increase your monitoring frequency and tighten mail + identity safeguards.

Warning signs something may be wrong

Property fraud can be quiet at first. These are signals worth investigating right away:

• Mail stops arriving, or you receive address-change confirmations you didn’t request
• Unfamiliar loan offers or lender mail tied to your home
• Tax delinquency notices you don’t recognize
• Alerts (from the county or a monitoring service) about a recorded document you didn’t authorize
• A title search for a refinance or sale reveals a new owner name, deed, lien, or encumbrance¹³

If you see any of these, don’t wait for “more proof.” Early action can reduce damage and shorten the path to correcting records.¹³

What to do if you suspect property fraud

If you suspect a fraudulent deed or lien, your goal is to (1) preserve evidence, (2) notify the right parties, and (3) start the record-correction process.

Step 1: Pull copies of the suspicious documents

Get certified or official copies from your county recorder/registrar of deeds. Save screenshots of online records, document numbers, and timestamps.

Step 2: Contact your county recording office immediately

Ask what your county’s process is for disputing a recorded deed or lien. Recording offices generally accept documents that meet filing rules; they typically don’t validate whether signatures or identity claims are legitimate—so correction often requires legal steps.³

Step 3: File reports and start a paper trail

• Law enforcement: File a local police report.
• FBI IC3 (internet-enabled schemes): The FBI encourages reporting suspected real estate and deed-related fraud to IC3.¹

Step 4: Consult a real estate attorney (and your title insurer if applicable)

Fraudulent filings often require legal action to unwind, quiet title, or otherwise restore clarity in the record. If you purchased title insurance, contact your insurer and review your policy terms—title insurance is designed to address certain title defects and disputes, but coverage depends on the policy and circumstances.⁵

Step 5: Protect financial and identity surfaces

Because impersonation is common, consider identity-theft precautions (credit monitoring, account security reviews, and any appropriate alerts). The FTC’s consumer guidance on “title lock” marketing is also a helpful reality check on what does and doesn’t prevent fraud.²

How monitoring and document organization help

Two themes show up repeatedly in property-fraud prevention guidance: monitoring and fast response. Monitoring helps you find suspicious activity sooner—but the type of monitoring matters. Basic alerts and name-based services often detect issues only after a filing occurs and may miss activity tied to address, parcel number, or pre-filing signals. More comprehensive approaches emphasize earlier visibility and clearer context, which can materially reduce response time and downstream damage.¹³

For homeowners who want an additional layer of ongoing monitoring specifically focused on property and title activity, DomiDocs’ HomeLock resources outline how address- and parcel-based monitoring, combined with broader internet scanning and risk interpretation, is used to surface potential issues earlier in the fraud lifecycle. See home title protection for related guidance and terminology.

FAQ

Sources

1. Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2025, April 1). FBI Boston warns quit claim deed fraud is on the rise. https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us/field-offices/boston/news/fbi-boston-warns-quit-claim-deed-fraud-is-on-the-rise-
2. Federal Trade Commission. (2024, August). Home title lock insurance? Not a lock at all. https://consumer.ftc.gov/consumer-alerts/2024/08/home-title-lock-insurance-not-lock-all
3. American Land Title Association. (2024, August 7). Consumer and industry advocates highlight deed fraud prevention (Press release / issue brief). https://www.alta.org/press/08072024_Deed%20Fraud%20%20Press%20Release%20_Final.pdf
4. Realtor.com. (2024, March 29). Deed fraud is on the rise—here’s how to protect your home. https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/deed-fraud-quitclaim-home-title-theft/
5. DomiDocs. (n.d.). Title insurance (Glossary). https://domidocs.com/glossary/title-insurance/