Don't Lose Your Home to Title or Deed Theft

There has been some recent news on the increase of title and deed scams in which someone forges Deed or Title transfer documents, files them with the county clerk, then attempts to transfer your property ownership to another person or borrow money against your property. This type of fraud could cause you to lose your home or cost you thousands in legal expenses.

Here are some helpful tips to protect yourself from this type of fraud:

1. For homeowners in Georgia go to https://fans.gsccca.org and activate your free Filing Activity Notification System (FANS). You will want to add all three notification options, which include your name, property address and document (deed book and page number). To obtain your book and page number, contact us (robin@robinmartinassoc.com) and we can locate this for you.

2. Keep your personal information secure and do not give it to anyone you don’t trust.

3. Only work with licensed professionals when it comes to the purchase or sale of your home

4. You can enroll in a paid service called “Home Title Lock”

Warning Signs:

1. You stop receiving water bills or property tax bills

2. You receive new loan payment information from a lender you’re not doing business with

If you feel you may be the victim of home title theft, file a police report immediately, then contact all three major credit reporting agencies and submit a fraud alert on your credit report.

Next, contact your mortgage lender and let them know of the situation. Furthermore, you may want to also contact a real estate attorney or professional that can provide further assistance.