August 27, 2026
Deed fraud is a growing scam across the country and cost Arizonans nearly $50 million last year. That’s why the Tucson Association of REALTORS® (T.A.R.), NAR, and Pima County have partnered to launch “Protect Your Title.” A public campaign raising awareness of deed fraud and encouraging property owners to register for Pima County’s Fraud Notify Program.
Fraud Notify is a free service that alerts owners of suspected fraudulent activity by notifying them every time a document is recorded in their name. Roughly only 2 percent of homeowners in Pima County are currently enrolled. The “Protect Your Title” webpage (ProtectYourTitle.org) contains a direct link to the enrollment page which only takes a few minutes to fill out.
- Educate your clients about the dangers of deed fraud
- This scam has affect many people across the country partly because of a lack of awareness. If your client is aware of deed fraud, they are more likely to stop a scammer before losing their property.
- Share ProtectyourTitle.org with your clients
- This will not only help spread the word about deed fraud, but will also give them a resources to keep themselves safe.
- Encourage your clients to enroll in Pima County’s Fraud Notify Program
- This is a FREE program that will alert homeowners of fraudulent activity within county records. The enrollment is two steps and only takes a few minutes to complete.
ProtectYourTitle.org is available in English and Spanish to reach all homeowners across the county.
June 30, 2026
The FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) recently issued a warning regarding a new real estate-related identity theft scheme in which criminals impersonate the owners of vacant property parcels to attempt to illegally sell the parcels without the rightful owner’s knowledge or consent.
These criminals create fake driver’s licenses, passports, emails, and internet phone numbers using the property owner’s information obtained through government websites, such as county GIS databases, data brokers, phishing schemes, and the dark web. REALTORS® and title companies are then unknowingly involved in the scheme as the criminals pose as the rightful owner using these fraudulent documents to have contracts created for the marketing and sale of the vacant property parcel. The proceeds are then directed to a co-conspirator in a different state.You can read the full Public Service Announcement from the FBI here: https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2026/PSA260616
- The seller refuses to meet in person and strictly communicates via email and text.
-
- Verify a potential client’s phone number using Forewarn, a safety tool provided to all Tucson Association of REALTORS® (T.A.R) Members. Forewarn provides you with an instant background check to validate their identity using their phone number. This tool is available at no additional cost to T.A.R Members.
- To opt-in to this free safety tool and activate your Forewarn account, visit https://www.tucsonrealtors.org/realtor-safety/ or call the T.A.R front desk at (520) 327-4218.
- The seller is rushing the transaction to close the sale quickly.
You are a professional in this industry who knows the market and how long these processes typically take. If a potential client offers to sell the property well below market value or is pressuring potential buyers to close quickly, take additional steps to verify the seller’s identity and confirm they are the rightful owner of the property.
- The seller provides inconsistent information or is unable to provide essential documents.
- Check property records to verify their claims as well as owner and property information. A quick check of Realist, MLSSAZ’s tax data suite, or the County Assessor or Recorder’s office can help in identifying a fraudulent seller.
MLSSAZ takes your listing and data safety seriously. That is why all subscribers are provided with access to Property Shield, a complimentary service that continuously monitors the internet for fraudulent listings. Property Shield is also expected to launch its Ownership Verification service soon, which will help verify the rightful owner of a property for an additional fee.
Members of the Tucson Association of REALTORS ® are also provided with Forewarn access which allows you to conduct a background check of any potential clients using only a phone number or name.
If you or one of your clients has fallen victim to this impersonation scam, file a complaint with IC3 at www.ic3.gov and include any information or documentation that may assist with the investigation.
April 23, 2026
-
Always verify the sender’s email address and look for inconsistencies
-
If the email says it is from John Smith but the email address says sam_anderson001, take extra steps to verify their identity
-
-
Be the one to create a virtual meeting and invite the potential client, not the other way around
-
This way you remain at the center of the interactions and can verify the legitimacy of all meeting links
- Utilize your brokerage’s virtual meeting software if available
-
-
If you are a member of the Tucson Association of REALTORS, be sure to opt-in to Forewarn at no additional cost
-
Forewarn is a safety tool that allows you to perform an instant background check or validate a potential client’s identity using only their phone number or name via the Forewarn mobile app
-
To opt-in today, call the TAR front desk at (520) 327-4218
-