Recorder’s office encourages property fraud alerts amid deed-impersonation scams

Elizabeth Berg, a real estate attorney, discussed property title, deed fraud and protective steps during a Marion County recorder’s office media segment. She said title records in the recorder’s office show ownership history, mortgages and judgment liens and that Indiana law recognizes the concept of marketable title. Berg described a form of deed fraud she called seller impersonation, in which actors—sometimes operating overseas—impersonate owners and submit fraudulent notarized deeds to transfer property. She said such schemes often target vacant land, rental properties and vacation homes.

Berg recommended that owners sign up for property-fraud alerts offered by county recorder offices; she said about 90 of Indiana’s 92 counties provide such alerts and that the service is free. She advised family members who hold power of attorney or guardianship to register on behalf of relatives so alerts are received by a trusted person, and to notify those relatives when doing so to avoid confusion. Berg also suggested title insurance and consulting a probate attorney for people inheriting property to ensure title is properly transferred and protected.

The segment noted that recorder’s offices hold public records of property transactions, including deeds, mortgages, liens and easements, and that controlling notarization and monitoring recordings are tools title professionals use to reduce fraud risk.