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County fraud alert programs are often recommended as a primary defense against real estate fraud. These free alert systems notify property owners when a document is recorded against their property. While helpful, they are not designed to detect the earliest and most dangerous stage of many real estate fraud schemes: seller impersonation fraud. Understanding what county fraud alerts do—and what they do not do—is essential for homeowners who want to realistically assess how pro

Real estate fraud is often discussed as if it were a single problem, but in reality, different types of fraud occur at different stages of a transaction. Two of the most commonly confused forms are seller impersonation fraud  and deed theft . While related, they are not the same — and understanding the difference matters for homeowners, agents, and anyone responsible for protecting property. Seller impersonation fraud typically occurs before  any public records change, while

Seller impersonation fraud rarely begins with forged deeds or public filings. In most cases, it starts quietly—long before a county alert can trigger and long before a homeowner realizes their property is at risk. Understanding how seller impersonation fraud begins is critical, because this early stage is where the most damage can be prevented. Seller impersonation fraud typically begins well before any deed is recorded or public alert is triggered. Seller Impersonation Fraud

When homeowners hear about property fraud, they often think of deed theft — forged documents, stolen ownership, and long legal battles to reclaim a home. While deed theft is serious, it is often not where the real danger begins . In many cases, the most damaging stage of property fraud happens earlier , quietly, and without the homeowner’s knowledge. This is known as seller impersonation fraud , and it is increasingly becoming the starting point for deed theft, fraudulent sal