As a real estate agent, I rarely go a day without receiving a fraudulent call or text.

I’ve been approached by people claiming to be out-of-state owners who want me to sell waterfront lots they don’t actually own. I’ve also received bogus offers on homes I have listed, with scammers attempting to gather enough information to commit identity or title fraud.

It comes in all shapes and sizes. And it isn’t just happening to me. Fraud comes up regularly in our office meetings. There are 138 agents in my office, and very few of them haven’t encountered something similar. This isn’t some rare scam happening somewhere else in the country.

It’s happening right here in Mooresville and around Lake Norman every week. It usually works like this: A scammer pretends to be the owner of a property and attempts to sell it or borrow money against it.

Their favorite targets tend to be:

• Vacant land and lots
• Second homes and lake properties
• Rental and investment properties
• Properties with no mortgageThe warning signs tend to follow a familiar pattern. The “seller” lives out of the area—or sometimes out of the country. They want to price the property below market value and close quickly, often with a cash buyer. They communicate almost entirely through text or email and always seem to have a reason why they can’t meet in person, get on a video call, or sign documents in front of a local notary.

I’ve been doing this long enough that I can usually spot these scams early.The average homeowner may not.

Why It’s So Dangerous

If someone successfully commits title fraud against your property and it may be easier than you think you might not find out until long after it happens. A fraudulent or forged deed can potentially be recorded, and the property could be sold or used as collateral for a loan while the actual owner has no idea. By the time you discover it, you could be facing a costly legal battle to clear your title and establish your ownership.

I’m Sharing This for One Reason
Iredell and Mecklenburg counties both offer free property fraud notification services through their Registers of Deeds. In my opinion, if you own property in either county, it is absolutely worth taking a few minutes to sign up. Once enrolled, you’ll receive an email notification any time a document is recorded using your name. That could include a deed, deed of trust, lien, or another recorded document associated with you.

Signing up is simple and typically only requires your name and email address.

Iredell County:
iredellcountync.gov/2117/Fraud-Detection-Notification-Service

Mecklenburg County:
propertyfraudalert.com/NCMecklenburg

These services cannot prevent someone from attempting fraud. What they can do is provide an important early warning. And with title fraud, discovering something suspicious within days instead of months ,or even years, can make an enormous difference. If you have questions about the Iredell County service, contact the Iredell County Register of Deeds at 704-872-7468.

A Few More Steps to Protect Yourself

• Sign up everyone listed on the deed. If your property is jointly owned or held in a trust or LLC, make sure each applicable name is registered for alerts.
• Own property in another county? Contact that county’s Register of Deeds and ask whether it offers a similar property fraud alert service. Many counties do.
• Pay extra attention to vacant land and second homes. These properties can be particularly attractive targets because fraudulent activity may be less likely to be noticed immediately.
• Take unexpected mail seriously. If you receive correspondence regarding a loan you didn’t obtain, a deed you didn’t sign, or a transaction you don’t recognize, investigate it immediately.

If you own property in Iredell or Mecklenburg County, this is worth a few minutes of your time.

It costs nothing, it’s easy to set up, and it gives you one more layer of protection against a type of fraud that is becoming increasingly common right here in our own community.