I never expected that a typical workday would turn into teaming up with Scottsdale Police to stop a full-blown home title theft attempt. But that’s precisely what happened.
A woman contacted me, saying she had inherited a home in Scottsdale and needed to sell it quickly. Nothing unusual — I buy and sell homes every week. But within minutes of speaking with her, the story began to change. Then the “owner” refused to talk to me directly. The timelines didn’t line up. The paperwork didn’t look right. The whole thing felt off.
After digging deeper, we found out the real owner had no idea his home was about to be sold out from under him.
That experience opened my eyes to just how real — and how common — title theft is becoming. After spending days with detectives, title officers, and the homeowner, I decided to compile a list of the actual warning signs I observe as an agent and investor in Arizona. These come from my personal experiences, what law enforcement teaches, what title companies observe every week, and what counties and federal agencies are now warning about.
If you own a home, especially if you’re a senior, an out-of-state owner, or someone with a lot of equity, this list is for you — and for any parent or relative who might not see the red flags on their own.
1. Mail or Bills Change Without Reason
This is often one of the first early warnings:
- Your property tax bill stops showing up
- Your mortgage statement suddenly goes missing
- You start receiving mail addressed to someone you don’t know
- You get loan statements or HELOC letters for accounts you didn’t open
In the Scottsdale sting, we later learned the scammers were counting on the homeowner not receiving his mail regularly.
2. Strange Documents Recorded in Public Records
This is the one most homeowners never check — but should.
Look for things like:
- A deed recorded with your name removed
- A new quit-claim deed you didn’t sign
- Tax documents listing someone else as the “owner”
- Foreclosure warnings for loans you never applied for
Criminals love hiding in plain sight. Recording a fraudulent deed takes them minutes.
3. Someone Tries to Sell a Property They Don’t Truly Control
This was the exact scam in the Scottsdale case.
Here’s the kind of behavior I saw firsthand:
- The “owner” refused to talk directly — everything had to go through a middleperson
- The story kept changing (inheritance details, location, timeline)
- They pushed for a super-fast closing
- They wanted to bypass normal safeguards, like talking to the title company
If someone selling a home keeps making excuses for why the real owner can’t get on the phone, that’s a massive red flag.
4. Deals That Feel Too Rushed or Too Secretive
Anytime you hear:
- “Let’s just do a quick cash deal — no need for title or escrow.”
- “We need to close tomorrow.”
- “Don’t talk to the title company; I already handled that.”
Stop. Real deals don’t fall apart because someone wants to verify documents.
5. If You’re a Buyer — Watch for These Red Flags
I see these all the time with investors chasing deals:
- The property is vacant
- The home is neglected and needs major repair
- The “owner” can’t or won’t meet in person
- They insist on using their own “paperwork”
- Their ID and the public records don’t quite match
In our case, the “seller” avoided every attempt to meet in person — for good reason.
6. Signs of Identity Theft
Title theft is almost always connected to identity theft.
Watch for:
- New bank accounts or credit lines you didn’t open
- Changes to your financial accounts
- Credit alerts involving your home address
- Emails or calls asking for “verification” about your title or deed
If anything related to your home arises unexpectedly, don’t ignore it.
7. Groups Criminals Target Most Often
After talking with Scottsdale PD and the title officers who helped us, this pattern became clear:
- Seniors
- Out-of-state owners and snowbirds
- Owners of vacant homes or rentals
- People with homes owned free and clear
- Heirs dealing with recent estates
Criminals look for easy victims — not informed ones.
8. A Quick Way to Check if Something Is Wrong
Here’s what I now recommend every homeowner do:
1. Look up your property on the county recorder’s website.
You can do this in 20 seconds. Check that:
- You’re still listed as the owner
- No new deeds or liens have been recorded
2. Sign up for your county’s FREE property alert system.
Here is an example of the Deed Alert system for Maricopa County. It’s fantastic and will notify you immediately if anything is recorded in your name.
3. Check your credit reports.
If someone’s opening a loan using your home, it will be listed here.
4. Save all suspicious mail.
Don’t throw anything away.
5. Call a trusted title company, attorney, or real estate pro.
Even if you just want someone to look at a document. Our office is happy to help. WWW.Johnrowan.com
9. What to Do if You Suspect Title Fraud
This is exactly what we did in the Scottsdale case:
- Contact the county recorder
- Call the police (fraud/forgery/ID theft divisions)
- Notify a title company
- Freeze your credit if needed
- Call an attorney if a fraudulent deed is already recorded
But the biggest lesson is this: speed matters.
In our situation, we had a tiny window to get the police in place before the scammers disappeared.
10. Final Thoughts (From Someone Who Has Seen This Up Close)
I’ve worked in and around real estate for nearly 40 years, buying my first home at 17. I’ve flipped homes, negotiated tough deals, and helped hundreds of homeowners. But nothing opened my eyes quite like watching two suspects sprint out of a title office when they realized the police were waiting.
Title theft isn’t a theoretical threat.
It’s not rare.
It’s happening everywhere — and it’s only getting worse.
If you’d like me to personally review a suspicious offer, contract, or situation — no pressure, no sales pitch — just reach out.
Your home is probably the biggest asset you’ll ever own.
Let’s make sure it stays yours.
— John Rowan
Founder, Quick Cash Phoenix Homes
Arizona Realtor & Investor
Top 1% Agent • Fraud Prevention Advocate