How to check your home title for fraud
Home title fraud involves criminals forging a deed or deceiving an owner into signing documents that transfer property, then filing those documents with the local records office. Checking public records and signing up for local recording alerts can help owners spot suspicious activity, but monitoring does not prevent a fraudulent filing.
A title is the legal ownership interest in a property, while a deed is a document used to transfer it. Local records searches are often free and generally use a name, address or parcel number; owners should use their government’s official website and avoid entering a Social Security number. A records check is not a professional title search or legal guarantee, and the Federal Trade Commission says “title lock” services are not title insurance and do not literally lock a deed.
- Check your local property records for unexpected filings.
- Many counties offer free alerts when documents are recorded.
- Monitoring can flag changes but cannot stop fraudulent filings.
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A property title is the legal right to own a home, while a deed is a document used to transfer that right. Fraud can happen when someone forges a deed or tricks an owner into signing papers, then submits them to the local records office.
Property records are kept by public offices, which may let owners search by name, address or parcel number. Some offices also offer alerts when a document is recorded, but these checks can help spot suspicious activity only after it is filed; they do not stop a filing or guarantee that a title is clear.
The Federal Trade Commission says services marketed as “title lock” do not prevent changes to public records and are not title insurance. Checking official records can help owners notice a problem, while questions about ownership or a suspicious filing may require professional or legal advice.