Information provided by the office of the County Clerk-Recorder-Registrar of Voters. Lea este artículo en español aquí.
A pernicious form of real estate fraud, known as deed fraud or home title theft, is increasing, posing significant risks for homeowners. This involves criminals forging documents to record a fake transfer of property ownership, allowing them to sell the home, take out a mortgage, or rent it out for profit.
According to the FBI’s 2022 Internet Crime Report, 11,727 individuals in the U.S. experienced real estate fraud losses totaling $350 million. While this represents a small percentage of the roughly 87 million homes in the U.S., the upward trend in home title theft is alarming and warrants attention.
“Deed fraud is a serious crime,” said County Recorder Francisco Diaz. “We’ve seen reports from the Bay Area of rightful homeowners incurring significant legal fees to resolve issues after being harassed by criminals. We want to be proactive and prevent San Benito County residents from being victimized.”
Diaz and the County Recorder team are particularly focusing on quitclaim deed fraud, which often targets the most vulnerable. In San Benito County, 13% of the population comprises senior long-term generational homeowners whose properties have substantial equity. Preventing financial elder abuse is a key goal under the prevention protection program.
To combat this growing threat, Francisco Diaz has introduced a free property fraud protection service. This automatic, customizable email alert system is designed to safeguard county residents against deed fraud. By subscribing, homeowners will receive real-time alerts if any documents are filed under their names. If they are aware of the transfer, no action is needed. If they are not, they should contact the Recorder’s Office for transaction affirmation, and potentially the Hollister Police Department and the Office of the District Attorney as soon as possible.
To ensure all homeowners are aware of this new service, the Recorder’s staff has mailed an informational postcard countywide; these will be received in mailboxes the week of June 24th. This mailer will provide detailed instructions on how to sign up for the free fraud protection service, empowering residents to protect their property from potential fraud. Additionally, the Recorder’s staff will host workshops at the Jovenes de Antaño Senior Center, the San Benito County Free Library and the San Juan Bautista Library. They will also establish partnerships with realtor associations and title companies to further spread awareness and provide assistance.
These initiatives aim to create a well-informed community that can proactively defend against property fraud, ensuring that all residents have access to the necessary tools and information to safeguard their homes.
Francisco Diaz also provided additional recommendations for homeowners to protect themselves from property fraud:
- Regularly Check Records: Use the county recorder’s online records search tool to
ensure there are no unknown deeds or mortgages on your property. - Monitor Unoccupied Properties: Regularly check that your property is not occupied
illegally if it is unoccupied. - Enlist Trusted Help: Ask someone you trust to look after your house if you will be away
for an extended period. - Manage Mail: Do not let mail pile up if you are out of town.
- Update Contact Information: Ensure the assessor and tax collector have the correct
mailing address for you or the person who should receive notices about your property. - Monitor for Missing Notices: Contact authorities if you stop receiving notices you
usually get, such as your tax bill. - Report Suspected Fraud: Immediately report any suspected fraud to the Office of the
District Attorney.
By taking these proactive steps, homeowners can better protect themselves from the growing threat of home title theft.
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