Fraud Education Center

Know the threats. Know the response.

Practical, plain-English homeowner resources on deed fraud, property records, and how to respond if something looks wrong.

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Homeowner reviewing a property deed document at a kitchen table

Fundamentals

What Is Deed Fraud? A Plain-English Guide for Homeowners

How home title theft works in the U.S., why it's growing, and the exact steps homeowners can take this week to stay protected.

Read article 6 min read

Close-up of a county recorder's property record document with a pen and reading glasses

Fundamentals

Understanding Property Record Changes: Deeds, Liens, and More

Every public filing — deeds, liens, mortgage releases, mechanic's liens, and tax assessments — translated into plain English.

Read article 7 min read

Suburban home at dusk with For Rent signs in the yard suggesting a rental scam

Awareness

Common Real Estate Scams Targeting U.S. Homeowners

Wire fraud, fake rental listings, equity-stripping refinances, and forged quitclaim deeds — the scams homeowners actually face, with defenses for each.

Read article 8 min read

Fireproof home document safe open showing labeled folders and a deed

Organization

How to Secure Important Property Documents

Where to store deeds, titles, surveys, and closing paperwork — and what to do if originals are lost or destroyed.

Read article 5 min read

Adult daughter helping her elderly father review property paperwork at a kitchen table

Awareness

Protecting Elderly Homeowners From Property Fraud

Why seniors are disproportionately targeted, the warning signs families should watch for, and the conversations to have before there's a problem.

Read article 7 min read

Concerned homeowner on the phone holding a suspicious legal letter

Response

What to Do If You Notice Suspicious Activity on Your Property

A step-by-step response plan if a filing on your property looks wrong, with the order of operations that protects you legally.

Read article 6 min read

Title insurance policy document with a brass house key resting on top

Fundamentals

Title Insurance Explained: What It Covers and What It Doesn't

Owner's title insurance, lender's title insurance, and the post-closing gap that monitoring fills.

Read article 7 min read

Exterior of a classical U.S. county courthouse and recorder's office building

Fundamentals

How County Recorders Actually Work in the U.S.

Recording offices vary wildly across the U.S. Here's what every homeowner needs to know to navigate any of them.

Read article 6 min read

Empty vacation home with shuttered windows at dusk surrounded by trees

Awareness

Protecting Vacant and Vacation Properties from Fraud

Second homes and unoccupied rentals draw a disproportionate share of fraud. Here's a practical playbook.

Read article 7 min read

Laptop showing a wire transfer screen on a closing day desk with keys and contracts

Awareness

Wire Fraud at Closing: The Billion-Dollar Real Estate Scam

Real estate wire fraud is the highest-loss scam in housing. Knowing the pattern is the entire defense.

Read article 6 min read

Homeowner reviewing a HELOC mortgage statement with a concerned expression

Awareness

Home Equity Line (HELOC) Fraud: How It Happens and How to Stop It

How criminals open HELOCs against homes they don't own — and why monitoring matters even when you have title insurance.

Read article 6 min read

Estate planning binder with a last will document next to a multigenerational family photo

Organization

Estate Planning and Property Titles: Trusts, Joint Tenancy, and TOD Deeds

How titling decisions affect both fraud protection and inheritance, and which structure makes sense for your situation.

Read article 8 min read

Person holding a credit freeze letter at a desk with a laptop in the background

Response

If Your Identity Is Stolen: The 48-Hour Property Response Plan

Identity theft often precedes property fraud. Here's the 48-hour response that limits the downstream damage.

Read article 7 min read

Top-down view of organized home ownership documents, keys, and a deed on a dark wood desk

Organization

The 12 Documents Every Homeowner Should Keep

The short list of paperwork that makes selling, refinancing, insuring, and defending your home dramatically easier.

Read article 6 min read

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The Homeowner Protection Checklist

A 12-point guide for spotting suspicious filings and organizing your most important documents.

Know the threats. Know the response.

What Is Deed Fraud? A Plain-English Guide for Homeowners

Understanding Property Record Changes: Deeds, Liens, and More

Common Real Estate Scams Targeting U.S. Homeowners

How to Secure Important Property Documents

Protecting Elderly Homeowners From Property Fraud

What to Do If You Notice Suspicious Activity on Your Property

Title Insurance Explained: What It Covers and What It Doesn't

How County Recorders Actually Work in the U.S.

Protecting Vacant and Vacation Properties from Fraud

Wire Fraud at Closing: The Billion-Dollar Real Estate Scam

Home Equity Line (HELOC) Fraud: How It Happens and How to Stop It

Estate Planning and Property Titles: Trusts, Joint Tenancy, and TOD Deeds

If Your Identity Is Stolen: The 48-Hour Property Response Plan

The 12 Documents Every Homeowner Should Keep

See what's on the public record for your address.

The Homeowner Protection Checklist

Fraud alerts & seasonal checkup reminders