When Ron Lieber received a letter from his mortgage servicer recently, it sent his spidey-sense tingling. Lieber writes about financial services for The New York Times, and the letter, which told him a change of address had been registered for his mortgage — something that was entirely incorrect — immediately made him worry that he was a target for deed theft.
Writing on Sunday in The Times about his experience, Lieber revealed that he had nothing to worry about. The whole thing was a clerical error.
But he was right to be alarmed. "In a world where deed theft — the attempt to literally swipe your property out from under you — is rampant, the letter signaled that thieves might be up to no good," Lieber wrote.
How Rampant Is Deed Theft?
Last year, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) published its 2025 Deed & Title Fraud Survey. It polled NAR members, asking if they'd come across any instances of deed theft or title fraud in their areas.
And way too many had. Here's the breakdown, showing the proportion of Realtors encountering this crime within the previous 12 months in each region:
- All respondents — 63%
- Northeast — 92%
- Midwest — 53%
- South — 59%
- West — 59%
But 12% of reports concerned owner-occupied homes and 2% vacant rentals.
A Case of Alleged Title Fraud on Death
Just this last weekend, Fox 5 in Las Vegas reported on an alleged case of title theft from a deceased's estate. Before his demise, a South Carolina man had granted his caretaker power of attorney.
"Records show that in April of this year, [the caretaker] was named as the father’s power of attorney," says Fox 5. "On April 17, a quitclaim deed transferred his Conway home to her for $5. Recorded bank statements also showed money transfers from Robert’s account to Smalls, including after he died."
The first his daughter knew that her father was dead was when she drove from her home in Maryland to check up on him.
He'd passed on three days earlier, and his caregiver had already begun redecorating the home and bringing in her own things. The deceased is said to have been classified as a vulnerable adult because he had Parkinson's and a brain injury.
"She [the caregiver] was allegedly coming here during the day and taking care of him, and one day she started moving furniture out, and he disappeared," a neighbor told Fox 5. "She was only in here a very short time, and Bob [the deceased], he was not within his wits at all. You could’ve talked him into just about anything. I even called senior services and asked them to look into it."
The daughter is still fighting for possession of the home, and there are no reports of criminal charges against the caregiver.
How to Avoid Being a Victim of Deed Theft and Title Fraud
Lieber says that many cities and counties let homeowners set up alerts that warn them whenever any change is made to a deed.
"A quick search for the name of your town or county and something like 'property protection alerts' should lead you there, though be on the lookout for fake government websites," writes Lieber. "If there are no alerts in your area, ask your elected officials to add them."
Lieber also found a company called EquityProtect, which, for $149.99 annually, sets up a sort of lock on a homeowner's deeds, which stops them from being amended without consent. Neither he nor we have any experience with the company, so we're unable to comment on its efficacy or value for money.
More Tips to Keep Your Property Safe
New York State is an epicenter of deed theft, and its attorney general has a webpage devoted to the crime. Although some of its information is state-specific, readers elsewhere may find much of the information it provides helpful.
In addition to setting up alerts, where possible, to warn homeowners of amendments to their deeds, the webpage recommends:
- Immediately investigating if one stops receiving bills for property taxes and water bills
- Checking one's property records annually
- Do not trust anyone who asks you to transfer ownership of your home or promises you can buy it back later.
- Be wary of anyone charging upfront fees for a loan modification, as these fees are often illegal.
- Never transfer your deed or ownership rights without first consulting your own attorney.
- Keep your estate plan and property title up to date so your home is less vulnerable after your death.
- Do not leave your property unattended; maintain it yourself or have someone you trust monitor it.
- Never sign a document you do not fully understand.
- Stay current on your mortgage, property taxes, and utilities, and seek free legal help if you cannot make your payments.
- Check your property records with your local county clerk or recorder for unauthorized changes.
