# Someone filed a fake deed on your house: what to do > In deed fraud, scammers forge a deed to “transfer” a property, then try to sell or borrow against it. Vacant land, rentals, homes with no mortgage, and older or out-of-town owners are common targets. Watch for missing mail or tax bills and notices about sales or loans you didn’t make. Sign up for your county’s free property fraud alert. If it happens, get the record, file a police report, and call your title insurer and lender. A real estate lawyer can clear your title. - URL: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house - Language: en - Last checked: 2026-10-29 - Watch the 1-minute animated guide: https://explained.page/watch?start=fake-deed-on-your-house ## Step by step 1. **Someone filed a fake deed on your house?** Scammers forge a deed to “transfer” a property, then try to sell it or borrow against it. Here’s how to spot it, stop it and fix it. 2. **Know who’s often targeted.** Vacant land, empty or rental homes, houses with no mortgage, and owners who are older or live far away. 3. **Watch for warning signs.** Your mail or tax bills stop, utilities change, or you get notices about a sale, loan or foreclosure you know nothing about. 4. **Sign up for your county’s free alert.** Many county recorder offices email you when a document is filed with your name. Check your property records now and then. 5. **Found a fake deed? Act fast.** Get a copy from the county recorder, file a police report, and call your title insurance company and lender. Report it to the FBI’s internet crime center if it involved online fraud. 6. **A lawyer can clear your title.** A real estate lawyer can file to cancel the fake deed, often called a quiet title action. Your title insurance may help pay. 7. **Be careful with “title lock” ads.** Paid services often just monitor records and can’t block a filing. Your county’s free alert may do much the same. 8. **Look it up the right way.** Search with your town or state in the words. Pick the official site: it usually ends in .gov. Skip ads and sites that charge for free forms. ## Checklist - Know who’s often targeted - Watch for missing mail and odd notices - Sign up for the county’s free alert - Act fast: recorder, police, title insurer - Have a lawyer clear the title - Be careful with paid “title lock” ads ## How it works A scammer forges your signature on a deed, files it with the county, and then tries to sell the property, rent it out, or take out a loan against it. ## Who’s often targeted Vacant land, empty or rental homes, homes without a mortgage, and owners who are older or live elsewhere. ## Warning signs - Your mail, property tax bills or insurance notices stop. - Utilities are changed or shut off. - You get notices about a sale, loan or foreclosure you don’t recognize. - A real estate listing or sign appears on your property. ## Prevent it - Sign up for your county recorder’s free property fraud alert, if offered; it notifies you when documents are filed in your name. - Check your property records online from time to time. - Keep an eye on vacant property. ## If it happens 1. Get a copy of the fake document from the county recorder. 2. File a police report; report online fraud to the FBI’s IC3. 3. Contact your title insurance company and your mortgage lender. 4. Talk to a real estate lawyer about a quiet title action or other steps to cancel the fake deed. ## Paid “title lock” services These often only monitor records and can’t stop a forged filing. Your county’s free alert may provide similar notice. ## Common questions ### Can someone really steal my house with a fake deed? They can file fake paperwork, but you remain the true owner. Fixing it can take time and legal help, so act fast. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/can-someone-really-steal-my-house-with-a-fake-deed ### Does title insurance cover deed fraud? An owner’s title policy may cover certain fraud and legal costs. Check your policy and call the insurer. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/does-title-insurance-cover-deed-fraud ### What is deed fraud? When someone forges a deed to falsely transfer a property, often to sell it or borrow against it. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/what-is-deed-fraud ### How do I know if someone filed a fake deed on my house? Check your county’s property records, sign up for a fraud alert, and watch for missing tax bills or notices about loans or sales you didn’t make. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/how-do-i-know-if-someone-filed-a-fake-deed-on-my-house ### What is a property fraud alert? A free service many county recorders offer that notifies you when a document is recorded in your name. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/what-is-a-property-fraud-alert ### What is a quiet title action? A lawsuit asking a court to confirm who owns a property and cancel false claims, like a forged deed. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/what-is-a-quiet-title-action ### Are home title lock services worth it? Many just monitor records and can’t stop a forged filing. Check whether your county offers a free alert first. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/are-home-title-lock-services-worth-it ### Who do I contact if my deed was forged? The county recorder, the police, your title insurance company, your lender, and a real estate lawyer. Source page: https://explained.page/fake-deed-on-your-house/questions/who-do-i-contact-if-my-deed-was-forged ## Official sources - [FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3)](https://www.ic3.gov/) - [FTC consumer advice: home title scams](https://consumer.ftc.gov/) To find your local office, search for: - "[your county] recorder property fraud alert" - "[your county] property records search" --- General information, not legal or professional advice. Rules differ by state. From explained.page (www.explained.page). Life’s stuff, explained simply.