Protecting Your Home Ownership Deed

States Empower Homeowners with Fraud Alert Systems

Property and mortgage fraud is a rapidly growing white-collar crime in the United States, prompting some states to implement proactive measures to help homeowners detect it. Many counties maintain property records, but not all states or counties participate in fraud detection programs.

Participating counties offer a free, online service through a third-party provider that monitors homeowners' names for potential fraudulent activity in property warranty deed records. Homeowners receive alerts via email or phone when their exact name appears as a Grantor or Grantee on over 90 document types recorded at the County Clerk’s office.

While these alerts do not prevent fraud, they serve as an early warning system, enabling homeowners to take swift action if they suspect fraudulent activity.

To check if your county participates, visit https://www.propertyfraudalert.com/select. If your state or county does not offer this service, you can request their inclusion or contact your state representative to advocate for legislation mandating such notifications.

If you find yourself the victim of warranty deed fraud, reach out to Fittz & Associates for a Certified Fraud Examiner to help with the next steps.