Property and deed fraud has become a growing concern for homeowners, particularly as scammers find new ways to impersonate property owners and attempt unauthorized real estate transactions.
Arizona homeowners now have another tool available to help monitor their property and identify suspicious activity before a fraudulent sale can move forward.
What Is Deed or Property Fraud?
Real estate fraud can occur when someone falsely represents themselves as the owner of a property and attempts to sell or transfer it without the legitimate owner's knowledge.
Vacant land, investment properties, second homes and properties without a mortgage can be particularly attractive targets because an owner may not regularly be at the property.
While no monitoring system can completely prevent fraud, early notification can give property owners an opportunity to investigate suspicious activity quickly.
Arizona Homeowners Can Sign Up for Property Sale Alerts
Arizona property owners can register to receive notifications when an escrow officer enters pending real estate sale information associated with their property into the system.
If you're not currently selling your property and receive an alert indicating that a sale may be underway, that's an immediate reason to investigate.
The service provides another layer of awareness for property owners and can be especially valuable if you own:
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Vacant land
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A second home or seasonal property
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Investment property
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Property owned free and clear
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Property you don't visit regularly
What Should You Do If You Receive an Unexpected Alert?
If you receive a notification about a pending sale that you did not authorize, don't ignore it.
Contact the appropriate parties immediately to verify what has been entered and determine whether someone is attempting to conduct a transaction involving your property.
The sooner suspicious activity is identified, the more opportunity there may be to stop a fraudulent transaction before it is completed.
A Simple Step Arizona Property Owners Can Take Today
Signing up for property alerts only takes a few minutes and provides an additional way to keep an eye on one of your most valuable assets.
Arizona property owner? Sign up for property alerts here:
You may also want to share this information with family members, friends or anyone you know who owns vacant land, a second home or investment property in Arizona.
Have Questions About Arizona Real Estate?
ProStar Realty has been serving Arizona property owners since 1992. If you have questions about buying, selling or protecting your interests during a real estate transaction, our experienced team is here to help.
ProStar Realty | Phoenix, Arizona
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