For most of us, our home is our most valuable asset. Therefore, it is concerning that the FBI has reported that one of the fastest-growing areas of white-collar crime in America is property and mortgage fraud. When a person knowingly records a fraudulent document, making it appear that they own another person’s property, it is deed fraud. The most vulnerable people are the following:

• People with a common name (Anderson, Smith, Johnson, etc.)
• Properties that the owner does not occupy.
• Properties that are owned free and clear.

To help prevent property title or deed fraud, county recorder’s offices and deed registry offices across the country have implemented alert services, which notify participating subscribers by email when a document is recorded in an individual’s or businesses name. 

If you are in Maricopa County, Arizona, visit https://buff.ly/3w7jxYz to register for alerts. If you are outside Maricopa County, Arizona, head to your local County Recorder or Registry of Deeds website and search for ‘title alert’ or ‘deed alert’. It’s a small step that could make a big difference in protecting your property.

Faith Investor Services is always here to help you. Reach out to us at faithinvestorservices.com/contact.