Property fraud is a type of crime where someone wrongfully changes the ownership of a property by creating fake documents, often through stealing someone’s identity. These criminals attempt to sell, take out a loan, or lease the property, leaving the real owner to face legal issues. This problem is often hard to spot and fix and is becoming more common, especially affecting seniors.
How it works
Impersonation: A criminal uses someone else’s personal details to pretend to be the real property owner.
Forgery: They produce fake papers, such as phony deeds or driver’s licenses, to make their false claim of ownership seem real.
False Transfer: The fraudulent deed gets filed with the local authorities, unlawfully giving ownership to the scammer.
Illegitimate Actions: The con artist then sells the property, borrows money against it, or rents it out.
Types of property fraud
Home title fraud: Scammers pretend to be a homeowner to sell or borrow money against their property.
Equity skimming: A fraudster purchases a property from the owner at a price much higher than what it is really worth.
Deed fraud: Crooks use fake or altered deeds to claim a property’s title for themselves.
Real estate investment scams: Some companies may make false claims about property investments to deceive individuals out of their money.
How to protect yourself
Monitor your mail: Be cautious if you stop getting property tax bills or utility statements.
Check public records: Regularly review the official records for any unexpected changes to your property.
Protect personal information: Avoid sharing personal details over the phone or via email and responsibly dispose of private documents.
Use alert systems: Enroll in your local government’s free property fraud alert system to get updates on any new documents filed under your name. (See the Statewide Property Alert Services below.
Statewide Property Alert Services
Protect your home by enrolling in a Property Alert Service offered by various Clerks and Comptrollers across Florida. This free service informs property and business owners about possible cases of property fraud by letting subscribers know when a deed, mortgage, or other legal document is filed in their name in their local county records. If you get an alert regarding activity that you didn’t start, this early warning can give you important time to prevent criminals from succeeding.
What is Property Fraud?
Property fraud happens when someone uses a fake deed to sell or transfer property that isn’t theirs. Even though a fake document might imply that the ownership of property has changed, the local Clerk and Comptroller’s system gives the true owners a chance to reclaim their property under the correct name.
Available Statewide Property Alert Services
Here is a list of counties in Florida that offer Property Alert Services, the type of notification provided, and a link to register.
NOTE: The personal details shared through these services are not considered public information and will not lead to unwanted communications. Just go to this link and you can locate your county in Florida and sign up for Free yes, no charge. https://www.flclerks.com/page/PropertyAlertServices
