Fort Bend County Announces Property Fraud Alert

As a property owner, safeguarding your investment is a top priority. Recently, Fort Bend County launched a new tool called Property Fraud Alert, designed specifically to protect property owners from fraudulent activity involving their real estate. This tool is part of a growing effort to enhance property security and reduce property-related fraud in our community. Here, we’ll cover what property fraud is, how the Property Fraud Alert program works, and why it’s essential for homeowners across Fort Bend County.

Property fraud, often referred to as “title theft” or “deed fraud,” occurs when someone illegally changes or transfers ownership of property without the owner’s knowledge. This type of fraud is particularly troublesome because, until recently, property owners had limited ways to monitor or prevent these unauthorized changes. Criminals might forge signatures on deeds or falsely claim ownership through fraudulent liens or mortgages, potentially leaving rightful owners to deal with lengthy legal battles and financial hardship.

What is the Property Fraud Alert Program?

The Property Fraud Alert program is a new, no-cost tool offered by Fort Bend County to help prevent property fraud. It sends near-instantaneous alerts to property owners whenever changes are made to their property records. Property owners can sign up online to receive phone or email notifications for any document recorded in the county’s official records related to their property.

How Does the Property Fraud Alert Work?

1. Registration: To get started, property owners simply need to register online, selecting their preferred method of receiving alerts—either through phone, email, or both.
2. Monitoring: Once registered, the system begins monitoring public records for any new filings under the property owner’s name.
3. Alert: The system sends a notification when a new document, such as a deed or lien, is recorded. Property owners who recognize the document can ignore the alert; otherwise, they should act quickly.

Why You Should Sign Up for Property Fraud Alert

1. Quick Response Time: Property Fraud Alert allows property owners to catch fraudulent activity as it happens, providing a crucial advantage for stopping any fraudulent claims on your property.
2. Peace of Mind: As a property owner, especially in a high-demand area like Fort Bend County, knowing you’re protected from fraud gives you peace of mind. This program offers reassurance that someone is monitoring your property’s records on your behalf.
3. Preventing Costly Legal Battles: Without a monitoring system, property owners might only discover fraud after significant financial or legal repercussions. Property Fraud Alert can notify owners of suspicious activity, potentially preventing costly disputes and damage to their credit or financial standing.

How Property Fraud Affects Our Community

In communities throughout Fort Bend County, especially in cities like Katy and Fulshear, property fraud is a growing concern. Properties here are in high demand, and while our local real estate market thrives, it unfortunately attracts fraudsters looking to profit from the boom. With more homeowners aware and protected, we can collectively strengthen the integrity of property ownership in our area.

How to Sign Up for Property Fraud Alert

The Fort Bend County Property Fraud Alert is available for free to all property owners. Signing up takes only a few minutes but can save you from major headaches in the future. You can access the registration and more information about the program on the Fort Bend County website here.

Final Thoughts

This tool appears to be a third party company that counties can opt into. That being said, it doesn’t appear to have widespread adoption in our area. Austin County, Colorado County, Brazoria County, and Galveston County are all participating. Noticeably absent right now is Harris County, Montgomery County and Waller County. I suspect however that it’s only a matter of time before we see these counties onboard. You CAN nominate these counties to participate.