I recently attended a loss-mitigation seminar where the District Attorney from Santa Clara County spoke about several real cases their office has prosecuted involving stolen homes and stolen home equity. In the examples shared, individuals had fraudulently transferred property titles or manipulated vulnerable homeowners—sometimes relatives, sometimes near strangers—in order to gain control of valuable real estate. Investigations uncovered the fraud and the perpetrators were prosecuted, with those involved ultimately receiving prison sentences. What was especially striking was how frequently these situations are occurring. That experience prompted me to write this article to help inform homeowners about the risks and the simple steps you can take to protect yourselves.
In recent years, law enforcement agencies and real estate professionals across the country have been raising awareness about an issue known as home title fraud, or deed fraud. While it is not extremely common, when it does occur it can create significant complications for homeowners. Fortunately, there are simple steps you can take to protect yourself.
Title fraud generally occurs when criminals obtain enough personal information about a homeowner to create and record a fraudulent deed transferring ownership of a property to another person or entity. Once the document is recorded with the county recorder’s office, the criminal may attempt to sell the property, rent it out, or take out loans against the home. Because recorder offices are required to accept properly formatted documents, they cannot always detect fraud at the time a document is submitted.
For this reason, awareness and early detection are extremely important.
The good news is that many counties in California have implemented fraud alert or property notification programs that help homeowners monitor activity on their property records. These programs can send an alert if a document is recorded under your name or against your property. These alerts can help you identify a potential problem quickly so it can be investigated and corrected.
In addition, district attorneys’ offices throughout California—including here in the Bay Area—actively investigate and prosecute cases involving fraudulent property transfers.
Warning signs of possible title or property fraud may include:
• Receiving documents indicating a transfer of ownership that you did not authorize
• Receiving loan or mortgage statements for loans you never applied for
• Missing property tax bills or notices
• Being contacted about selling or refinancing a property you still own
If you encounter any of these situations, contact your county recorder’s office, your local police department, or a qualified real estate professional immediately.
Homeowners can also take several preventative steps:
• Periodically check public records for documents recorded against your property
• Monitor your credit report for unusual activity
• Protect personal information such as Social Security numbers and financial records
• Sign up for your county’s property fraud alert or recording notification system if available
Below are official resources where homeowners can learn more about property fraud and sign up for available alerts:
San Mateo County
https://smcacre.gov/assessor/real-estate-fraud-alert
Santa Clara County
https://clerkrecorder.sccgov.org/services-we-provide/recording-services/property-fraud
Alameda County
https://www.acgov.org/auditor/clerk/recording/fraud-alert.html
Contra Costa County
https://www.contracosta.ca.gov/3467/Fraud-Notification-Program
San Francisco County
https://sf.gov/report-real-estate-fraud
Marin County
https://www.marincounty.org/depts/ar/divisions/recorder/fraud-prevention
These county resources provide information about warning signs, reporting suspected fraud, and programs that help monitor property recordings. Many counties also work closely with their District Attorney’s offices to investigate fraudulent property transactions and protect homeowners.
Your home is often your most valuable asset, and taking a few minutes to become familiar with these tools can provide important peace of mind.
If you ever have questions about your property records or need help locating information for your specific property, please feel free to reach out. I’m always happy to help guide you to the appropriate resources.