Imagine discovering that someone tried to sell, transfer or place a lien against your property while pretending to be you. That is the threat behind seller-impersonation and property-title fraud, and new research suggests the schemes are becoming more common and more sophisticated.
For North Texas homeowners, the good news is that there are practical steps you can take to make suspicious activity easier to spot — including a free alert service available to Tarrant County property owners.
Seller-Impersonation Fraud Is Growing
The American Land Title Association (ALTA) reported in September 2026 that 59% of title firms surveyed experienced at least one seller-impersonation fraud attempt during 2025. That was more than double the 28% reported in ALTA’s 2024 study.
The research surveyed 245 title insurance professionals across 40 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Among firms that reported at least one attempt, one-quarter also reported a paid claim related to seller-impersonation fraud.
Vacant land remains a common target, but the schemes are not limited to empty lots. ALTA’s research also identified vacation homes, rental properties, agricultural land and primary residences as targets. Absentee owners and properties owned free and clear of a mortgage can be especially attractive to criminals.
How the Scam Can Work
A criminal may gather publicly available information about a property and its owner, then pose as the legitimate seller. Spoofed contact information, stolen personal information and increasingly sophisticated technology can make the impersonation convincing.
ALTA’s 2026 research found spoofed contact information was one of the most commonly reported tactics. Respondents also reported seeing manipulated voice or image technology used in attempted fraud. That means an email address, caller ID — or even a familiar-sounding voice — should not automatically be treated as proof of identity.
Tarrant County Offers a Free Property Fraud Alert
The Tarrant County Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert is a free automated service that allows property owners to register their name for monitoring. The system checks more than 90 types of documents recorded with the County Clerk and can notify registered owners by email or telephone when their exact registered name appears as a grantor or grantee.
There is an important limitation: the alert does not prevent a fraudulent document from being recorded. Tarrant County describes it as an early-warning system that can help an owner discover potentially suspicious activity and respond more quickly.
Another No-Cost Monitoring Option for Some Homeowners
First American Title announced on September 14 that participating independent title agents can offer eligible homeowners property-title monitoring and fraud alerts at no additional cost when the residential owner’s title insurance policy is underwritten by First American Title.
The service can alert eligible homeowners to new property-related filings such as deeds or liens. Eligibility and availability vary, so homeowners should verify coverage directly with their title company or title insurer rather than responding to an unsolicited message claiming to offer protection.
What North Texas Property Owners Can Do
- Sign up for your county’s official property-record or fraud-alert service when one is available.
- Pay attention to unexpected mail, notices, liens, deeds or inquiries involving your property.
- Be especially vigilant with vacant land, rental homes, inherited property or property owned free and clear.
- Verify unexpected requests using contact information you obtain independently — not the phone number or link contained in a suspicious message.
- Ask your title professional what identity-verification, title-monitoring and post-closing protection may be available for your property.
Monitoring Is an Early Warning — Not a Guarantee
No alert service can guarantee that fraud will never occur. The goal is to add layers of protection and make unusual activity easier to detect. If you receive an alert involving a document you do not recognize, contact the county clerk or appropriate recording office using independently verified contact information and seek qualified legal or title guidance promptly.
For homeowners, buyers and sellers across North Texas, the larger lesson is simple: real estate fraud is evolving, and verification matters. A few minutes spent checking an identity, document or unexpected request can be far less costly than trying to unwind a fraudulent transaction later.
Sources & Further Reading
- American Land Title Association — Seller Impersonation Fraud Expands in Scope and Sophistication
- Tarrant County Clerk — Property Fraud Alert
- First American Title — No-Cost Property Title Monitoring Expansion
This article is provided for general educational purposes and is not legal, title-insurance or cybersecurity advice. Services, eligibility and coverage can vary.