🔍 What Is Deed Fraud?

Deed fraud happens when someone illegally transfers ownership of your home into their name—without your knowledge. Once that’s done, they might:

✅ Try to sell your home
✅ Take out a mortgage or loan
✅ Rent it out and collect the money

Vacant properties, second homes, and homes owned by seniors or out-of-state owners are often targeted. But this can happen whether you live in the home or not. As a result, It can go unnoticed until you get a foreclosure notice… or find out your home is listed for sale and you didn’t do it.

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🕵️‍♂️ How Does It Happen?

1. A scammer finds your property info in public records
2. They forge a fake deed with their name
3. They file it with the county recorder’s office
4. Suddenly, they look like the legal owner on paper

And guess what? Most county offices don’t verify ownership details beyond basic formatting, and as a result, the fraud can go unnoticed for months. However, Delaware counties are setting systems in place to alert you of any deed action.

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🔐 How Can You Protect Yourself?

Here are a few ways to stay safe:

✔️ Check your property records regularly
✔️ Sign up for county property fraud alerts
✔️ Be cautious with personal info—shred mail, watch for scams
✔️ Consider a title monitoring service for added protection

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🏠 Protect your biggest investment—your home—before someone else tries to claim it.

Given these points, all 3 counties in Delaware offer deed activity alerts. The links are below. I encourage everyone to sign up to receive any alerts!

New Castle County
Kent County
Sussex County

As always, if you or anyone you know needs help with this or anything else real estate related, feel free to call or email me!