Title Fraud

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With title fraud becoming more common, we want to make sure our clients, friends, and family stay alert. Last month, KSDK published an article highlighting the growing risk of title fraud scams. Below, you’ll find a brief excerpt from the article, along with helpful tips and information about Property Fraud Alert—a free online service that notifies you when a document is recorded under your name in your local County Land Records Office. It’s an extremely valuable tool for detecting fraudulent activity early.

Missouri Recorders Warn Homeowners of Title Fraud Risks

Officials across Missouri are sounding the alarm about title fraud—where scammers steal property by falsifying documents, including those for homes and land. Often, homeowners don’t discover the fraud until years later, usually when trying to sell or build on the property.

St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds Mary Dempsey explains, “When a document comes in, we verify the signatures and the notary, and we record it. But we can’t always tell if it’s fraudulent.”

With the growing use of AI, scammers are becoming more sophisticated. Dempsey notes, “They’re using fake IDs and digitally copying notary signatures onto forged documents.”

St. Louis County Recorder Gerald Smith adds, “One of the biggest challenges is how quietly this kind of fraud happens.”

Dempsey also cautions: “If someone uses forged documents to take your property, it’s up to you to prove it. You’ll need to contact law enforcement, file a report, and consult an attorney.”

Protect Your Home: Stay Alert Against Rising Title Fraud

Title fraud is becoming an increasingly common threat, and we want to ensure our clients, friends, and family are staying informed and protected. Just last month, KSDK published an article warning of potential title fraud scams—schemes where criminals use forged documents to steal ownership of property, often without the owner knowing until it's too late.

To help you safeguard your property, we’ve included a brief excerpt from the article along with a valuable resource: Property Fraud Alert.

What is Property Fraud Alert (PFA)?
Property Fraud Alert is a free notification service that alerts you whenever a document is recorded with your name on it at your participating County Land Records Office. You can choose to be notified by email, text message, or phone call.

• Cost: Free, provided by your County Land Records Office

• Name Monitoring: You can sign up for multiple names (personal, business, trust names)

• Updating Info: Simply re-subscribe if your contact info changes

• Duration: Your subscription remains active indefinitely, as long as your county supports the program

• Alert Contents: You’ll receive notifications showing the document type, location, date recorded, and matching name

This simple tool can provide early detection of fraudulent activity—often before it causes serious damage. We highly encourage you to take advantage of this service.

If you have any questions about real estate or property protection, don't hesitate to reach out to Martian Mortgage.