With the information available in public records, cunning thieves may be able to forge documents that will give them access to the deed and title to your home.  This fraudulent ownership may allow them access to the equity in your home and possibly sell the home to someone else. While this seems highly unlikely, it is not impossible, and there are ways for homeowners to protect themselves.

Do you need to spend money on a service?

These ads claim that anyone with forged signatures and fake IDs can file paperwork with the county’s register of deeds to transfer ownership of your property to themselves or a third party.  They then use your home as collateral against a large loan to steal your equity.  When you fail to make payments on the loan, the lender can place a lien on your home preventing you from selling, refinancing, or passing the home on to heirs.  As the ads state “Don’t lose your home or life savings.”

Home Title Lock is one of the services that says it will monitor your home’s deed 24/7 to prevent title fraud; it costs $15 a month ($150 annually).  But you can protect yourself for free.  Many Michigan counties now provide a consumer notification service.  You simply register and you will quickly receive an e-mail or text any time a document is recorded on your property.

Ingham County has a free deed fraud alert system in place.
Property Fraud Alert

Eaton County has a program called Fraud Sleuth.
Eaton County Fraud Sleuth

Clinton County uses Fraud Guard.
Fraud Guard

You don’t need to pay a company to protect you from criminals who put their names on your home title. You can protect your home for FREE.