Home Title FraudStay Safe From Scammers

​What is Home Title Fraud?
Home title fraud is where a fraudster steals your home through identity theft and
forging of documents. Then the fraudster either sells it or takes out a loan,
especially HELOCs, against it without you even knowing about it. When the
mortgage or HELOC is not paid, the property enters foreclosure. It doesn’t happen
often, but it does happen. The loans are fraudulent, so the homeowner can
eventually get the title back and the loans cancelled, but the hassle is real.

​Georgia’s Response
Homeowners in Georgia have 2 alert systems to protect titles. They are not
guaranteed, but they are good. If a homeowner doesn't have this alert tool, and
something is filed in the county clerk's office against a homeowner’s property, the
homeowner would not have the ability to react, often before it is too late.
It works like alerts for suspicious spending on credit cards. Once the property is
registered online with the county, the homeowner would get an alert any time someone
tries to file something tied to that home.

Whenever a property filing is recorded in a clerk’s office, registered users will receive
an alert via email and/or text message. If the filing isn’t recognizable by the
homeowner, they can contact the Clerk’s Office and local authorities.

Opportunity to Connect with Your Database
Most homeowners don’t know about this system. This is a great opportunity to send
information about a strong tool of protection for homeowners. You can even go a step
further by sending the parcel ID number to make the process even easier. Remember,
the homeowner has to opt-in. Your clients will certainly appreciate it – and appreciate
you.

Here are the links.

Fulton County
In Fulton County, the Superior and Magistrate Court website has an online property
fraud notification tool that is different from other counties, but performs the same
function. The acronym R.E.A.A.C.T stands for Real Estate Activity Alert and Contact
Tool. R.E.A.A.C.T. allows Fulton County property owners to register their properties
with the court via parcel ID number. Anytime a document is filed against said property,
the property owner will receive an alert giving them the opportunity to proceed as
normal if they recognize it or to "react". This service is provided at NO COST to Fulton County Homeowners.

Other Georgia Counties
Other counties in Georgia use the FANS system, an acronym for Filing Activity
Notification System. It has the same features as REACCT. It is a free, voluntary, opt-in
program that can be used to send electronic notifications of filing activity to individuals
who create notifications in the system.

To access the system for all counties in Georgia, go to https://fans.gsccca.org and
follow the prompts. Direct links to Atlanta core counties are below.
DeKalb County
https://registry.myfivepoint.com/dekalb/fraudreg/
Cobb County
https://www.cobbsuperiorcourtclerk.com/real-estate-information/filing-activity-
notification-system-fans/
Gwinnett County
https://www.gwinnettcourts.com/deeds-and-land-records/filing-activity-notification-
systems
Forsyth County
https://www.forsyth.cc/rod/property_fraud.aspx
Fulton County
https://apps.fultonclerk.org/reaact/MyAlerts