Title fraud has become one of the fastest-growing forms of real estate theft in the United States. Using forged documents, criminals can attempt to illegally transfer ownership of a home, land, or investment property without the rightful owner's knowledge.

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To help combat this problem, the Broward County Property Appraiser's Office, led by Appraiser Marty Kiar, offers the Owner Alert program free of charge, a tool designed to notify homeowners when a change of ownership related to their property is recorded.

 

How does it work?

Once registered in the system, the owner receives an email alert and can also opt to receive text messages when the Appraiser's Office receives documentation reflecting a change of ownership. The notification includes a link to the registered document so the owner can review it.

 

If the change was authorized, no further action is required. However, if the owner does not recognize the transaction, they can act quickly and contact the appropriate authorities to investigate potential fraud.

 

Why is it important?

Fraudsters can register fraudulent deeds to try to sell, mortgage, or rent properties they don't own. While the program doesn't prevent fraudulent documents from being filed, it does provide an early warning that can help minimize damage and expedite a legal response.

 

This protection is especially important for:

• Older people.

• Owners who live out of state.

• Owners of investment properties.

• Heirs to family properties.

• People who own vacant land.

 

How to register

The process is simple and free. You only need:

1. His name.

2. The property identification number (Property ID).

3. A valid email address.

 

Property owners can register through the Broward County Property Appraiser's Owner Alert program and also have the option to activate text message notifications. Visit the Broward County Property Appraiser's website ( www.bcpa.net ) to begin the process.

 

A free tool for greater peace of mind

 

Protecting your assets starts with staying informed. Signing up for Owner Alert takes just a few minutes and can provide a valuable additional layer of security against property fraud.

 

If you own property in Broward, consider registering today and share this information with family, friends, and neighbors. A simple alert could help protect one of your most important investments.

 

Sincerely,

Your real estate agent,

Djinji Crocker