If you own a home, you may be at risk for home title fraud

DALLAS (KDAF) — Anyone with a home is at risk for home title fraud, so adding an essential layer of security to protect your largest investment could be critical.

We sat down with Art Pfizenmayer, senior security advisor for Home Title Lock, to learn more about what home title theft is and how to prevent it.

“In this age, everything is digital,” Pfizenmayer said. “What people don’t understand is that document that represents the ownership of their house is in the county recorder’s office, which is a public document. Anyone who wants to can go online or walk in there and get a copy of your title. Now, the bad guys can forge that very easily…they can change the name on the deed so that it looks like they are, with their false identity, the owners of record.”

Once the thieves have forged your home title document, they can do several things including getting loans using the equity in your house. But once they get the loan, they disappear — and a few months later, someone may show up on your doorstep, wondering where your loan payments are.

“The only way to get ahead of the game is to find out about it before that first loan closes,” Pfizenmayer said. “Once it closes, you’re in a legal, financial, and emotional nightmare. It can last for years.”

Home Title Lock has proprietary software that can monitor your title in a national database and notify you of anything suspicious. They also have teams available to help get the title back in your name.

For more information, watch the full segment above or visit the Home Title Lock website here .

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