What we verified in “Deed theft and title fraud: how to protect your home”

Statements and where we checked them

The statements with rules, figures or dates, with the exact place in the source and the date we checked them.

1. According to the New York Attorney General's office, deed theft occurs when a thief takes the title to a home without the homeowner's knowledge or approval; the two common ways are forgery, where the thief fakes the owner's signature on a deed and files it with the county clerk, and fraud, where the owner signs the deed over to the thief without realizing what they are signing, often after false promises of help.

   Sources 1 · Deed theft (Office of the New York Attorney General): 'Deed theft occurs when a thief takes the title to a home without the homeowner's knowledge or approval'; 'A thief fakes a homeowner's signature on a deed and files it with the county clerk'; 'A homeowner signs their deed over to a thief without realizing what they are signing'; 'Oftentimes the thief makes false promises to help the homeowner' · Checked October 17, 2026

2. According to the New York Attorney General's office, any homeowner can be a victim, but thieves mainly target abandoned or empty properties, properties in foreclosure, properties with tax or utility liens, and properties whose owner died without the heirs legally transferring title; and scammers also target seniors, immigrants and people of color.

   Sources 1 · Deed theft (Office of the New York Attorney General): 'Any homeowner can be a victim of deed theft'; 'abandoned or empty properties'; 'properties in foreclosure'; 'properties with tax or utility liens'; 'properties where the homeowner is deceased and the heirs do not legally transfer title to the property'; 'Scammers also target seniors, immigrants, and people of color' · Checked October 17, 2026

3. The New York Attorney General's office advises all homeowners to get help from their own lawyer or through free services; not to hire a lawyer referred by someone who might have an interest in the property; to know that legitimate organizations will not ask you to transfer your property rights or promise you can buy the property back; to beware of upfront fees for a loan modification; to have a will, because deed thieves target homes whose owner died years ago without the heirs transferring title; not to abandon the property; to read everything and never sign anything they don't understand; to keep up with mortgage, property tax and utility payments; and to contact the county clerk to check property records.

   Sources 1 · Deed theft, 'Tips for all homeowners': 'Get help from your own lawyer or through free services'; 'Do not hire a lawyer referred to you by someone who might have an interest in your property'; 'Legitimate organizations will not ask you to transfer your property rights, or promise that you will be able to buy back your property'; 'Beware of upfront fees for a loan modification'; 'Have a will'; 'Deed thieves often target homes where the owner died many years ago and their heirs did not transfer the title'; 'Do not abandon your property'; 'Never sign anything you do not understand'; 'Keep up with your property payments, including your mortgage, property tax, and utility payments'; 'Contact your local county clerk to check on your property records' · Checked October 17, 2026

4. According to the New York Attorney General's office, in New York City the Recorded Document Notification Program sends email or text alerts about legal changes to a property, such as ownership; if you stop receiving your property tax and water bills, or your utility bills rise suddenly, contact the Department of Finance or call 311; and check ACRIS every year to see whether someone has filed a deed or mortgage on your property.

   Sources 1 · Deed theft, 'Tips for New York City homeowners': 'Get notified of legal changes to your property by email or text message'; 'The Recorded Document Notification Program sends alerts about any legal changes, like ownership of a property'; 'If you stop receiving your property tax and water bills or if your utility bills increase suddenly'; 'call 311'; 'Check your property records yearly'; 'Automated City Register Information System'; 'to check if someone has filed a deed or mortgage on your property' · Checked October 17, 2026

5. According to the New York Attorney General's office, if you are a victim of deed theft you can file a complaint with law enforcement (the Attorney General's office or your local district attorney) and contact an independent attorney; if you don't have one, the Homeowner Protection Program (HOPP) network has lawyers who provide free counseling and legal assistance (855-466-3456); in New York, if a scammer sues to evict you in housing court, you can ask the judge to stay the case for 90 days to file in the right court (Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law section 756-A); and the office takes complaints at 1-800-771-7755.

   Sources 1 · Deed theft, 'Victim of deed theft?': 'File a complaint with law enforcement'; 'either OAG or your local district attorney's office'; 'Contact an independent attorney'; 'the HOPP network has lawyers who provide free counseling and legal assistance'; 'ask the judge to stay (or pause) the eviction proceeding for 90 days'; 'Real Property Actions and Proceedings Law section 756-A'; '1-800-771-7755'; '855-466-3456' · Checked October 17, 2026

6. In a 2022 advisory, the Arizona Attorney General's office reported complaints from homeowners whose home was no longer in their name after someone forged their signature on a deed and filed it with the county recorder, and in many cases the criminal quickly sold the home and left with the money; it said the crime is most common in empty houses, rentals owned by corporations or out-of-state owners, and homes where someone recently passed away, and that owners who live in their homes and carry a mortgage are less likely to experience it; and it advised periodically checking the county recorder and assessor websites to make sure the information is accurate.

   Sources 2 · Attorney General's Office Warns AZ Homeowners About Deed Fraud (August 22, 2022): 'someone fraudulently forged their signature on a warranty deed and filed it with the county recorder'; 'In many cases, the criminal quickly sold the home and took off with the money'; 'homeowners who live in their homes and carry a mortgage are less likely to experience deed fraud'; 'The crime is most common in houses that are empty, rentals owned by corporations or people who live out of state, or homes where someone has recently passed away'; 'periodically check the county recorder and the county assessor's websites to ensure their information is accurate' · Checked October 17, 2026

7. According to the Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller, property fraud occurs when someone uses a forged document to sell, transfer or encumber property that is not theirs; the forged document may or may not affect the property, but it can make it look as if its status or ownership changed; and removing that change from your title can be complicated.

   Sources 3 · Property Fraud (Miami-Dade Clerk of the Court and Comptroller): 'Property fraud occurs when an individual uses a forged document to sell, transfer or incumber property that does not belong to them'; 'it may give the appearance to the rest of the world that the status or ownership of the property has been changed'; 'removing this change from your title can be a complicated process' · Checked October 17, 2026

8. The Miami-Dade Clerk lists these warning signs: you receive a fraud courtesy notice from the county; there is a recorded document on your property you never signed; the property or part of it was transferred or sold without your knowledge; the signer was deceased when the document was signed; a loan was taken out on your property without your knowledge; a recorded document was altered after you signed it; you stop receiving your property tax bill or notices; you get a notice of default or sale when you own the home outright or are current; you receive loan papers or documents for a transaction you didn't make; or you get suspicious calls, emails or texts about your property that direct you to another website.

   Sources 3 · Property Fraud, 'Warning Signs of Deed Fraud': 'A Fraud Courtesy Notice from our office'; 'A recorded document on your property where you never signed the document and your signature was forged'; 'transferred or sold to another party without your knowledge'; 'the signer of the document was deceased at the time of execution of the document'; 'A loan was taken out on your property without your knowledge'; 'Changes or alterations were made to a recorded document after you signed it'; 'Stop receiving your property tax bill or notices'; 'Receive a Notice of Default or Notice of Trustee's Sale when you own your home outright'; 'Receive loan documents in the mail for a loan that was obtained without your knowledge'; 'If you receive a suspicious phone call, email or text regarding the status of your property' · Checked October 17, 2026

9. For property fraud victims, the Miami-Dade Clerk suggests: report it immediately to local law enforcement, because deed forgery is a crime; file a complaint in circuit court to quiet title based on a fraudulent conveyance under Florida law (section 65.091), asking the court to declare the forged deed void, paying the filing fees or filing for indigency; consider an attorney, whom the local bar association can recommend; the Clerk provides a simplified form for that complaint; record a lis pendens after filing the case, to put the public on notice and help prevent other sales; and contact the property appraiser and tax collector, because a recorded deed can change your address in their systems, bills may go elsewhere and unpaid taxes can end in a tax deed auction.

   Sources 3 · Property Fraud, 'Steps to Take for Victims of Property Fraud': 'Deed forgery and property fraud is a criminal act'; 'IMMEDIATELY reach out to your local law enforcement agency to file a report'; 'File a Complaint with the Circuit Court to Quiet Title Based on Fraudulent Conveyance (Fla. Stat. Sec. 65.091)'; 'You will need to pay the applicable filing fees or file for indigency'; 'you may want to consider contacting an attorney to assist you'; 'The Clerk can provide a simplified form'; 'A lis pendens puts the public on notice that there is a lawsuit involving the property'; 'The court case must be filed prior to recording the lis pendens'; 'A recorded deed can change the property owner's address in the Property Appraisers' and Tax Collectors' systems'; 'Unpaid taxes can eventually result in the property being sold at Tax Deed Auction' · Checked October 17, 2026

10. According to the Miami-Dade Clerk, its Property Fraud Alert is a free service that notifies you within 24 hours of any document filed affecting your property; it cannot prevent a fraudulent deed from being filed, but it lets you respond quickly; and these email alerts add to the mailed courtesy notices the county has sent since 2005.

    Sources 3 · Property Fraud: 'sign up for Property Fraud Alert, a free service offered by your Miami-Dade Clerk of Court and Comptroller'; 'The Property Fraud Alert notifies you within 24 hours of any documents filed which affect your property'; 'While it cannot prevent a fraudulent deed from being filed, it can allow you to respond quickly'; 'These email alerts are in addition to the existing safeguards of mailed courtesy notices since 2005' · Checked October 17, 2026

11. According to Los Angeles County, the Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk mails fraud notifications to homeowners and renters within 30 days when a Grant Deed, Quit Claim Deed or Deed of Trust is recorded, and within 5 days when a Notice of Default or Notice of Sale is recorded; since January 2023, people who register for e-Notification on the Assessor's portal also get an email within 48 hours; and with questions or a suspicious document, you can call the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 593-8222.

    Sources 4 · DCBA, LA County Assessor, Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk Launch Property Owner E-Notification Alert (January 11, 2023): 'mails fraud notifications directly to homeowners and renters within 30-days when a Grant Deed, Quit Claim Deed or Deed of Trust has been recorded'; 'within 5-days, when a Notice of Default, or Notice of Sale is recorded'; 'As of Jan. 5, in addition to receiving paper copies via US mail, an email will be sent within 48 hours to the E-Notification registrant'; 'create a profile on the Los Angeles County Assessor's portal'; 'contact the Department of Consumer and Business Affairs at (800) 593-8222' · Checked October 17, 2026

12. According to the California Department of Real Estate (DRE), certain California counties give owners electronic or letter notifications of recorded activity: electronic in Calaveras, Los Angeles and San Diego counties, and letters in Contra Costa, Placer and Riverside counties; if your county is not listed, check its website for a program.

    Sources 5 · County Recorder Property Owner Alert Program (California DRE): 'Certain California counties offer property owners electronic and/or letter notifications of recorded activity'; 'Electronic Notifications Calaveras County Los Angeles County San Diego County'; 'Letter Notifications Contra Costa County Placer County Riverside County'; 'visit your local county's website to see if a notification program is available to you' · Checked October 17, 2026

13. According to the Tarrant County Clerk (Texas), its Property Fraud Alert is a free online service where you sign up to have your name monitored; you are notified only when the exact name you provided is listed as a grantor or grantee on more than 90 document types; alerts come by email or phone call; and it won't prevent fraud, but it gives early warning so you can act.

    Sources 6 · Property Fraud Alert (Tarrant County Clerk, modified March 3, 2026): 'a free on-line automated service in which Tarrant County property owners can sign up to have their name monitored'; 'participants will be notified only when the exact name they have provided is listed as a Grantor or Grantee on over 90 different document types'; 'alerts can be generated by email or telephone call'; 'While PFA will not prevent fraud from happening, it provides an early warning system' · Checked October 17, 2026

14. According to the Bexar County Clerk (Texas), its Vanguard Property Alert is a free alert system for all property owners in the county: after you create an alert with your name, you get an email whenever a document is recorded in the county's Official Public Records, and you can view the document through the link in the email; you sign up on the county's public portal by selecting 'Property Alert'; the service flyer is in English and Spanish; and the county calls property fraud a fast-growing crime as damaging as identity theft.

    Sources 7 · Bexar County Clerk's Free Vanguard Property Alert Service (March 31, 2023): 'The Property Alert is a free real property alert system for all property owners in Bexar County'; 'subscribers will receive email notifications anytime a document is recorded in the Bexar County Clerk's Official Public Records'; 'by clicking on the link that is provided in the email'; 'Select Property Alert at the top of the page and complete the registration process'; 'Servicio de Alerta Para Propiedad'; 'It is a fast- growing crime as damaging as identity theft' · Checked October 17, 2026

15. According to the CFPB, when you buy a home you receive a document usually called a deed, showing the seller transferred ownership or title to you; owner's title insurance protects you if someone sues claiming a right to the home from before you bought it; most lenders require a lender's policy, and an owner's policy is optional and can help protect your investment.

    Sources 8 · What is owner's title insurance? (reviewed October 19, 2023): 'you receive a document usually called a deed, which shows the seller transferred their legal ownership'; 'Owner's title insurance protects the homeowner if someone sues and says they have a claim against the home from before the homeowner purchased it'; 'Most lenders require you to purchase a lender's title insurance policy'; 'You may want to buy an owner's title insurance policy, which can help protect your financial investment in the home' · Checked October 17, 2026