A Terrifying Crime: What is Property Title Fraud?

Home title fraud occurs when a criminal obtains the title of your property (usually by stealing your identity first) and then changes the legal ownership on your property title from your name to theirs. Usually, the goal of this fraud is to take out as many loans as possible using your equity as collateral. In our experience, the actual homeowner often is completely unaware of the scam until a lender starts sending letters to the property indicating they intend to foreclose on the home due to nonpayment.

The most terrifying thing about property title fraud is how easily it can happen. Property deeds are recorded at the county clerk's office, and it's not their job to verify the information on each new deed they receive. By simply filing a fraudulant deed, a criminal can usually obtain everything they need in order to start otaining loans against your house.

. . .The actual homeowner often is completely unaware of the scam until a lender starts sending letters to the property indicating they intend to foreclose on the home due to nonpayment.