Protecting your home from deed fraud is a critical step for homeowners.

 

Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties offer free, automated property fraud alert services designed to notify owners of potentially fraudulent deeds or mortgages recorded against their properties. These systems monitor public records using your name and/or parcel ID and provide early warning of possible unauthorized activity.  Follow the directions below to sign up

 

Chester County: Fraud Notify 

Chester County’s Fraud Notify (formerly known as Fraud Guard) is a free service provided by the Recorder of Deeds to help safeguard residents against property and mortgage fraud.

  • How it Works: Once registered, you will receive an email notification, generally within 24 to 48 hours, when a land record is recorded under your name or property UPI number.
  • Unique Feature: The County also offers a Guardianship Fraud Prevention program that verifies recently recorded deeds against court orders to prevent the illegal transfer of property belonging to incapacitated seniors or disabled residents.
  • Sign Up: Residents can enroll via the Chester County Fraud Notify Portal.

 

Delaware County: Property Alert

Delaware County recently upgraded its protection suite with Property Alert, part of its new online land records system.  

  • How it Works: Property Alert sends an automated email whenever a document is recorded using your name or unique Property ID (Folio) number.
  • Steps to Enroll:
    1. Create a free account on the Delaware County Cloud Search System.
    2. Search for your property using your name or Folio number.
    3. Open the document associated with your property and click the "Property Alert" button to activate monitoring.

 

Montgomery County: FraudSleuth

Montgomery County property owners can utilize FraudSleuth, a free tool managed by the Recorder of Deeds to monitor for suspicious recordings.

  • How it Works: Homeowners receive email alerts for any changes to their property record, including new mortgages, satisfactions, or deed transfers.
  • Steps to Enroll:
    1. Register for a user account on the Montgomery County Public Access System.
    2. Log in and navigate to "Modify My User Preferences" on the left side of the page.
    3. Select "Configure FraudSleuth Profile" and add a profile for your Parcel Identification Number (PIN).

 

Here are the county websites if you would like more information: chesco.org, delcopa.gov, or montgomerycountypa.gov.