Your home is one of your most valuable assets, but many homeowners don’t realize that it could be at risk of a growing type of fraud called “deed fraud” or “title fraud.”
This type of fraud can happen when someone forges documents to transfer the ownership of your property to themselves or another person.
While cases of deed fraud are still relatively rare, they can have devastating financial consequences if they occur.

What Can A True Home Owner Do?
According to Housingwire.com, county clerks can’t simply delete fake deeds - that’s up to the courts. A “quiet title” lawsuit to undo fraud takes at least six months, often years, and costs $5,000 or more. During this time, owners can’t sell or refinance, and many can’t afford the fight, risking their homes altogether.
Fortunately, there are steps you can take to proactively protect your property and keep your ownership secure.
In this article, we’ll break down how deed fraud happens, what you can do to prevent it, and specific protections available to residents in Snohomish, King, and Skagit counties. If you're reading this and live outside the Puget Sound area, this article is still very relevant and can also help you protect yourself, your family, and your home.
What is Deed Fraud, and How Does It Work?
Deed fraud occurs when someone forges documents to illegally transfer ownership of a property, often without the rightful owner knowing. Scammers might do this to take out loans against the property, use the property as collateral, or even sell it to an unsuspecting buyer. In some cases, they might gather personal information about the homeowner to make the forged documents appear more authentic.
While deed fraud can happen to anyone, criminals may target properties that appear vacant or owned by elderly homeowners.
Even though this crime is relatively uncommon, recent advancements in technology, like artificial intelligence, have made it easier for scammers to gather information or create realistic-looking forgeries.
Steps to Protect Your Property
Despite the risks, you can take several simple steps to protect yourself and reduce the chances of becoming a victim of deed fraud:
Title Insurance: Title insurance is one of the best ways to protect yourself from deed fraud. This type of insurance, usually purchased during the home-buying process, helps cover the costs if there’s a title dispute or fraud associated with your property. While it’s often a one-time purchase, it can provide ongoing protection for as long as you own the property.
NOTE: If your Title Insurance was purchased prior to 1997, you may not be covered for fraud that occurs post-purchase. Per Housingwire.com, to confirm your coverage, you should locate your Title Insurance paperwork and find the "Covered Risks” section to determine if you're protected from “forgery and impersonation” after your policy date. If you are not, consider purchasing a new Title Insurance policy that provides the desired level of coverage.
Sign Up for County Property Alerts: Many counties offer property alert systems that notify you whenever there is activity on your property’s records. These alerts can help you detect unauthorized changes and allow you to take action quickly. We’ll cover property alert systems available in Snohomish, King, and Skagit counties below.
Monitor Your Records Regularly: It’s a good idea to check your property records from time to time. You can visit your county’s property records or assessor’s website to make sure no unauthorized changes have been made.
Secure Your Personal Information: Be cautious with your personal information both online and offline. Deed fraudsters often rely on identity theft, so protecting your sensitive information (like social security numbers or account information) is essential.
Act Quickly if You Notice Suspicious Activity: If you receive a property alert or notice unauthorized changes in your property records, take action immediately. Report the changes to your county’s recorder or auditor office and consult a real estate attorney if necessary. If you have title insurance, contact your insurance provider for further assistance.
Property Alert Systems in Snohomish, King, and Skagit Counties
Homeowners in Snohomish, King, and Skagit counties have access to different resources to help them monitor and protect their property records. Here’s a breakdown of what’s available and how you can sign up for these valuable alerts.
Snohomish County
Snohomish County offers a Recorded Document Notification System for property owners. This free service alerts you by email if a document containing your name or tax parcel number is recorded in the county.
Here’s how to sign up (I signed up and it takes just a couple minutes!):
Register Online: Visit the Recorded Document Notification System page on the Snohomish County website.
Enter Your Information: You’ll need to provide your name and tax parcel number. Most counties now have online tax parcel number look up systems. Zillow often has a property's parcel number listed as well.
For Snohomish County, check out this article on how to look up historic property information AND parcel numbers.
Confirm Your Email: After signing up, you’ll receive a confirmation email. Click the link in this email to activate your notifications.
This alert system is an effective way to monitor your property records in Snohomish County, giving you a prompt heads-up if there’s any suspicious activity.
King County
Unfortunately, King County does not currently offer an automated property alert system that I can find (at least yet).
However you can still protect yourself by checking your property’s records regularly and considering title insurance for additional coverage. Set up a monthly or quarterly property check reminder on your phone's calendar or to do list.
If you have questions or would like to learn more about property records, the King County Recorder’s Office staff are available to help. You can contact them directly for assistance with record inquiries or concerns.
King County Recorder's Office
Address: 201 S. Jackson St., Suite 204, Seattle, WA 98104 In-Person Hours: 8:30am to 4:30pm, weekdays Phone: 206-477-6620. Phone Hours: 9am to 2pm, weekdays
Email: KCROCust@kingcounty.gov
Skagit County
Skagit County currently does not offer a property alert system either, but homeowners can still take steps to monitor their property records:
Check Property Records Online: Use the Skagit County Property Search tool on the Assessor’s website to review your property’s records regularly.
Contact the Auditor’s Office: If you’re concerned about your property records, the Skagit County Auditor’s Office can provide information on any recorded documents associated with your property. They can guide you on how to access copies of records or answer questions about recent filings. Skagit County Recorder's Office Monday to Friday: 9:00am – 4:00pm
Address: 700 S 2nd, Room 201, Mount Vernon, WA 98273
Phone: (360) 416-1703 Email: screcording@co.skagit.wa.us
By staying proactive and keeping an eye on your property records, Skagit County homeowners can still guard against unauthorized changes even without an alert system.
Why Monitoring Your Property Records Matters
Deed fraud is rare but serious. The effects can be financially and emotionally devastating, especially if you don’t discover the fraud until it has caused significant damage.
By taking steps to monitor your records and secure your property, you can reduce the risk and help ensure your home remains yours.
For homeowners - property alerts, title insurance, and regular record checks are powerful tools in the fight against deed fraud.
Even if your county doesn’t offer a property alert system, a little proactive attention can go a long way.
Confirm your title insurance covers fraud, or "forgery and impersonation" post home sale / title insurance policy start date. Title insurance purchased prior to 1997 may not.
Take the time to protect your investment, secure your future, and ensure your home remains your sanctuary.
For more questions about property protections or to explore other real estate topics, feel free to contact me for additional information or help to ensure your home and deed are protected!
Thank you for reading and of course if you have any questions or need some help - please reach out - joe.frank@exprealty.com
-Joe
Listen to the podcast for this blog article:
note: this podcast is AI created from this blog article.
Comments