You can protect yourself from deed and mortgage fraud by signing up for Deed Fraud Guard. This is a simple way to monitor your land records and warn you of potential property fraud.
Notaries can also sign up to be notified when a document is recorded with their signature and notary stamp.
Deed and mortgage fraud
Deed fraud is when a person sells a home pretending to be the owner without permission from the legal owner.
Mortgage fraud is when a person signs a mortgage for a property they don’t own. They then borrow money against the property.
In both cases, the change happens without the legal owner’s knowledge or informed consent.
For property owners
Register your name on the Deed Fraud Guard website, and when a document is recorded with your name on it, you will be notified by email.
Once you receive the email, you have several options available to access and review the document.
All property owners in Philadelphia can register for free.
For notaries
Register on the Deed Fraud Guard website, and when your signature and stamp are used to record a document, you will be notified by email.
If you believe that your signature and stamp have been used to fraudulently record a document, you can record a notary affidavit with the Department of Records. There is no fee to record a notary affidavit.
See the department’s regulation for more information about recording a notary affidavit.