A free program from the Montgomery County Recorder’s office will safeguard your home with a notification system on property records that can detect fraud.
County Recorder Lori Kennedy visited the Germantown City Council meeting in March to share information on the program. Her goal is to have every property in the county enrolled to fight fraud. “There are 247,000 parcels in Montgomery County, and we have enrolled, I doubled it last year, about 40,000, so we have a lot of work to do,” Kennedy said.
“I walked into 50 cases in 2024 and there were 25 more this last year. So deed fraud is a problem,” Kennedy noted.
Property Deed Fraud
According to the Recorder’s office, property deed fraud occurs when an individual files a fraudulent document with the county Recorder’s Office, falsely claiming ownership of your home or property.
This document is usually forged and often involves a complicit notary. Typically, the person committing the fraud does not intend to live in the property; instead, they aim to sell it quickly to an unsuspecting buyer at the property’s value.
Property deed fraud can generally be reversed if detected early. For this reason, the Recorder’s Office offers a notification system for all property.
Fraud Alert Notification System
The Fraud Alert Notification System, also known as the FAN System, is a free service that notifies subscribers of all documents recorded against their property.
To start receiving notifications, property owners must enroll and indicate whether they prefer to be notified by mail, email, and/or text. Once enrolled, they will receive a welcome letter along with a decal to display on their property.
Every time a document is recorded, the property owner will receive a notification letter/message that includes the file number of the recorded document. If a recorded document is suspected to be fraudulent, the property owner should contact the Recorder’s Office immediately. Upon receiving a complaint, the case will be referred to the Prosecutor’s Office for criminal investigation.
Not all notifications mean fraud, the Recorder’s office notes. Homeowners can also prevent deed fraud by checking unoccupied properties frequently, ensuring mail isn’t piling up, and confirming the County Treasurer has the correct address for all property tax notifications.
Register for the Fraud Alert Notification System with the Montgomery County Recorder’s office.
© 2026 Twin Creek Times