What Is Title Fraud?
Title fraud—sometimes called “deed fraud” or “home title theft”—occurs when someone illegally changes the ownership of your property without your knowledge or consent. This can happen in several ways, including:
Forging your signature on a deed and recording it with the county.
Transferring ownership to a fake identity or shell company.
Using the fraudulent title to borrow against your property, leaving you with potential financial and legal headaches.
The crime can go undetected for months or even years, because most homeowners don’t regularly check county property records.
Who Is at Risk?
Anyone who owns property could become a victim of title fraud, but some groups are particularly vulnerable:
- Seniors, who may not monitor property records closely.
- Snowbirds or absentee owners, who aren’t always physically present to spot suspicious activity.
- Owners of rental properties or vacant land, which criminals sometimes target because the true owner isn’t actively living there.
How the Maricopa County Title Alert Program Protects Homeowners
To help fight this type of fraud, the Maricopa County Recorder’s Office offers a free Title Alert Program. Here’s how it works:
Sign up online with your name and email address.
Receive instant notifications anytime a document is recorded under your name.
Act quickly if you receive an alert that looks suspicious by contacting the Recorder’s Office or law enforcement.
The program is free to sign up and there are no annual fees; unlike similar commercial products that perform similar a similar function.
This program doesn’t prevent fraud from happening, but it gives you immediate notice so you can take action before the problem grows. Think of it as a smoke alarm for your property title—it doesn’t stop the fire, but it alerts you in time to protect yourself. And did I mention its free?