Home title lock: what it is and what it doesn't do

Home title lock is a subscription service sold to homeowners with the promise of protecting them from title fraud, where a criminal records a fake deed to put a property in their name. The FTC's verdict is blunt: home title lock insurance is not a lock at all. It is a service that monitors your deed. It does not block a transfer. It tells you about one after it has happened.

What title fraud looks like

Home title theft, also called deed fraud, happens when someone forges documents, often a quit claim deed, to record a fake transfer of ownership. The FBI says these cases often involve vacant or rental properties, and that the criminals may also steal the owner's identity to complete the paperwork. A fraudster with a recorded deed can try to sell the property or borrow against it before the real owner notices.

Why the ads work

The ads lean on fear: your house can be stolen in the night. Title fraud does happen, but it is rare compared with the number of people who get these ads. A monitoring product that notifies you after the filing offers less than the word "lock" suggests. The word "insurance" also confuses people with real title insurance, which covers you against problems with the title, such as a lien nobody knew about.

What does the work for free

Your county records office (the recorder, register of deeds or clerk, depending on the state) holds the deed. You can look up your own property there. Some counties offer free alerts when a document is filed under your name or address. The FTC points people to those free options before any paid service, and the FBI recommends checking your property records with the county deeds office from time to time and looking into any paperwork or signature you don't recognize.

Home title lock vs. title insurance

Title insurance is bought when you purchase or refinance, protects you from defects in the title, and is a one-time cost. A title lock is a monthly or annual monitoring service. They are different products.

How to protect yourself

Look up your deed

Search your county recorder's or register of deeds' website for your name and address. Do this once a year, and sooner if you rent out or leave a property empty.

Sign up for free property alerts

Ask your county whether it sends free notices when something is filed against your property.

Check what a paid service really does

Ask whether it blocks a recording or only notifies you after. If it only notifies you, you can get the same from the county.

Protect the details used to forge a deed

Fraudsters use your name, signature and address. Serus finds where your address and phone number are listed publicly and removes them, which makes it harder to build a convincing forgery.

Report it fast

If you find a deed you didn't sign, contact the county recorder, your local police and a real estate attorney, and report it at reportfraud.ftc.gov and ic3.gov.

Frequently asked

Is home title lock worth it?

The FTC says it is not a lock and not insurance. It's a monitoring service, and free options from your county may give you the same alerts.

Is home title lock a scam?

The FTC doesn't call the company a scam, but it warns that the name is misleading and the ads use fear. Read what the plan does before you pay.

What is quit claim deed fraud?

A criminal forges documents, including a quit claim deed, to record a transfer of a property into their name without the owner knowing. The FBI has warned it's on the rise.

Can someone steal my house with a fake deed?

A fake deed can be recorded, and a fraudster can try to sell or borrow against the property. Vacant and rental properties are the usual targets, and recorded deeds can be challenged and reversed.

What is a home title lock?