Home Title Fraud: How to Check Your Property Records and What Monitoring Can and Can't Do

Many homeowners picture identity crime as a stolen password or a hacked account. According to a Fox News report published October 3, 2026, home title fraud does not work that way. It involves documents filed in public property records, not someone breaking into an online account and changing a login.

What the report says

The article explains that homeowners can look at official property records to spot suspicious deeds, liens or ownership changes. It also points to free county alerts as a way to be notified when something is filed against a property.

It draws a clear line around what paid monitoring services can do. A monitoring service can alert you when something changes in the public record, but it cannot stop someone from submitting a fraudulent document in the first place. In other words, these tools help you notice a problem sooner. They do not prevent one.

The report also highlights a warning from the Federal Trade Commission about so-called "title lock" products. The FTC says a title lock is not the same as title insurance, and it does not literally lock your deed. Homeowners should be careful about marketing that suggests otherwise.

Finally, the article advises against entering your Social Security number into a public property-search page. Looking up a property record should not require it.

Why it matters

Because deeds and liens are filed with local government offices, a fraudulent filing can sit in the records unnoticed if no one is looking. Checking your records now and then, or having an alert set up, shortens the time between a suspicious filing and your finding out about it.

What you can do

• Look up your property on your county recorder's website and review the documents listed under your name and address.
• Sign up for a free county property fraud alert if your county offers one.
• Watch for unexpected mail about your property, such as notices about loans, liens or ownership.
• Treat a monitoring service as an early-warning tool only, and remember it cannot block a fraudulent filing.
• Be skeptical of "title lock" claims. They are not title insurance and do not lock your deed.
• Never enter your Social Security number on a public property-search page.
• If something looks wrong, contact your county recorder's office and local law enforcement.

Source: Fox News