How to Prevent Home Title Theft and Deed Fraud
As one of your most valuable assets, your home can be an attractive target for fraudsters—who can draft fake documents and forge signatures to claim ownership of a property, and then take loans out against it. The problem is you may not even be aware that anything is amiss until it's too late.
"With deed and title fraud, scammers find a vulnerability and exploit it as long as they can," says Lisa Lang, senior manager of Financial Crimes Risk Management at Schwab.
Thieves typically target mortgage-free properties, seasonal homes, undeveloped land, and vacant residences—the types of places where owners may not be closely monitoring title records. According to a 2025 survey by the National Association of Realtors, some 63% of respondents said they'd heard of deed or title fraud in their markets within the prior 12 months.
The good news is there are practical ways to stay vigilant against such scams:
- Secure your credit: Freezing your credit with all three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—can offer strong protection against fraudulent property transfers. "A credit freeze can effectively block any attempt to verify your creditworthiness, which is necessary to obtain a mortgage, a line of credit, or a home equity loan," Lisa says. Should you require a legitimate credit check, you can unfreeze your accounts at any time.
- Watch for unusual activity: Scammers are counting on homeowners not noticing something is wrong, so it's vital to keep regular tabs on your records. "Contact your local registrar or property recorder immediately if you see an unknown name or entity listed in connection with your home," Lisa says. You can also check to see if your property recorder provides fraud alerts. "And if you've received a legitimate offer for free credit monitoring following a data breach, accept it without hesitation," she adds.
- Consider additional layers of protection: Other precautions against deed and home-title theft include enabling two-factor authentication for websites and being wary of unsolicited calls. You might also consider contacting an estate attorney to place your properties in a trust. "Tracking down a trustee by name and then trying to file a claim of ownership provides an extra hoop that fraudsters have to jump through," Lisa adds.
Even with those types of safeguards in place, Lisa suggests reviewing your property records via your county's assessor at least twice a year (some counties offer searchable online databases). "People largely overlook the simple measures they can take to protect themselves," Lisa says.
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This material is intended for general informational and educational purposes only. This should not be considered an individualized recommendation or personalized investment advice.
All expressions of opinion are subject to change without notice in reaction to shifting market conditions. Data contained herein from third-party providers is obtained from what are considered reliable sources. However, its accuracy, completeness, or reliability cannot be guaranteed.