It can be as straightforward as an individual crafting one or more documents in compliance with court regulations to transfer property ownership. These documents are then submitted to the court clerk, who officially records the change. The clerk's role is

solely to accept and file these documents. THE CLERK DOES NOT VALIDATE, ATHENTICATE ANY DOCUMENTS NOR CONFIRM ANY IDENTITIES OF FILERS. In fact, most documents are submitted to the court today electronically.

Title insurance protects the insured against anything in the past that may come up in the future to make claim on the property. Any condition or change that occurs AFTER the issuance of the title policy is NOT COVERED. Should someone file false documents to

take ownership of your property, your title insurance does not cover it.

Any property owner is at risk, with those owning properties fully paid off or with significant equity being particularly vulnerable. This includes vacation homes, second homes, and rental properties, especially if the owner isn't present daily. In essence, all

properties face some level of risk.

Certainly, there has been a notable surge in fraud-related losses. According to the FBI, the amount escalated from $2.7 billion in 2018 to $10.3 billion in 2022. Essentially, over a span of five years, the losses have increased fivefold.

For detailed FBI reports, you can visit https://www.ic3.gov/.

Since everything is available online, gaining access requires minimal effort and resources. Those committing deed fraud doesn't even need to be in the U.S. All that is required is internet access.

Identity theft plays an integral role in deed fraud. By stealing the victim’s identity, they can then forge documents which allows them to fraudulently transfer property ownership or secure mortgages.

Commercial properties are indeed susceptible to deed fraud, just as residential properties are. The complexity of the transactions and the higher value associated with commercial real estate can sometimes make these properties even more attractive to

scammers. The basic premise of the fraud remains the same—forging documents to illegally transfer ownership or encumber the property with mortgages.

Warning signs of potential deed fraud can be subtle. One indicator might be unexpected mail delivered to your property addressed to a different name, which could suggest someone is attempting to establish a presence at your address. Additionally, if you

notice unfamiliar individuals inspecting your property without prior notice, it could be cause for concern.

Some counties do offer alert services that notify property owners of any documents filed against their property. These alerts are not preventive; they only notify you after the document has been recorded, which has value, but too late to prevent a sale that has

already occurred. Often these alerts are diverted to spam folders, or overlooked in the myriad of other emails received daily.

Unfortunately there are no specific legal measures that effectively prevent deed fraud due to the inherent complexities of property transactions. Implementing broad legal solutions could inadvertently add layers of complexity and cost, as it would necessitate

additional government staffing for enforcement. However, at Fraud Guard, we've developed Deed Defender™ consisting of proprietary documents and filing processes designed to empower property owners, ensuring they maintain control and are

safeguarded against such fraudulent activities.

Yes, unfortunately there are many. Here are a few:

1. Dunedin man discovers his house was stolen through deed fraud

2. October 2023 - Couple discovers their vacant land fraudulently listed for sale
   

3. Property sold after fake deed recorded with county  
   

4. 10 people removed from Fort Lauderdale home stolen through title fraud 

5. Title fraud: Broward Property Appraiser’s Office fights to prevent use of court system to steal homes

6. Fraud problems continue with Volusia County property

7. $300K Florida real-estate scam saw woman sell 25 properties she didn't own

8. Property fraud a real problem in Northeast Florida, County Clerks say

9. Convicted fraudster reveals ways to protect homes against title fraud

10. How 3 suspects in alleged title fraud got caught

The authorities are well aware of the problem. They just have not come up with a solution that does not require major legislative changes, high costs, and that won’t hinder the many thousands of non-fraudulent real estate transactions that occur every

day.

Our capability and service can be used on any real estate property type. We are seeing the largest issue is with residential homes, so our focus is on residential homes. Feel free to ask us about any property type you have and if we have a document package to

protect it.

We are also currently serving only Broward and Palm Beach Counties in Florida. If you would like to be notified when Deed Defender™ will be available in your area, register to be notified HERE.

Our simple fee structure encompasses the Service fee, Recording fee, Notary fee, and Delivery fee.

After placing your order, the document package will be ready to schedule with a notary in 3 business days. Once you have scheduled and signed the document with our notary, the typical turnaround time to have everything certified and recorded with the county is

three (3) additional business days. To review our process, click HERE.

Absolutely. We use a third-party payment system. We do not have access to your payment information.

We do not offer refunds. Our service in most cases is completed within six business days of your order. If for some reason you are unhappy with our service for any reason, please reach out to info@fraudguardusa.com