Attention St. Louis Homeowners: Protect Your Property with This FREE Fraud Alert Service

If you recently opened your St. Louis County property tax bill, you might have spotted an extra flyer tucked inside. It’s not junk mail — it’s a golden opportunity to protect your most valuable asset: your home.

That flyer introduces Property Fraud Alert, a completely free service offered by St. Louis County that notifies homeowners when any document is recorded in their name. As your local real estate expert, I want to break down why this service matters, how it works, and why every homeowner in St. Louis should sign up today.

💥 Why Property Fraud Is a Growing Threat

Let’s face it — we live in a digital world where identity theft 🥸 and financial scams are becoming more common. Unfortunately, property and mortgage fraud are among the fastest-growing forms of white-collar crime in the country.

Here’s how it typically works:

• A criminal steals someone’s identity.

• They forge documents to transfer the deed or take out a mortgage on the victim’s home.

• The real owner doesn’t find out until they’re served with foreclosure papers, denied a refinance, or worse — discover their home was sold out from under them.

This kind of fraud can happen to anyone — even if you own your home outright, even if you don’t have a mortgage, even if you live in your house full time.

The bottom line? If you own property, you are potentially a target.

🔍 What Is Property Fraud Alert?

To help protect homeowners, the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds Office offers the Property Fraud Alert program. Here’s what it does:

✅ Monitors recorded documents — Anytime a document (such as a deed, lien, or mortgage) is recorded with your name on it, you will receive an alert.
✅ Notifies you quickly — You can choose to be notified via email or phone, so you’re in the loop right away.
✅ Gives you time to act — If something suspicious shows up, you can take action before serious legal or financial damage is done.

The best part? It’s 100% free — no fees, no gimmicks, just proactive protection.

🏠 Why Should You Sign Up?

Even the most careful, organized homeowner can be blindsided by fraud. In fact, most victims don’t realize anything is wrong until they experience:

• A sudden notice of foreclosure.

• Unexpected liens or judgments on their property.

• Problems selling, refinancing, or transferring ownership.

By enrolling in Property Fraud Alert, you get a simple, powerful line of defense that lets you detect suspicious activity early.

Think of it like a smoke detector for your home’s paperwork — you may never need it, but if something goes wrong, it could save you thousands of dollars and endless headaches.

✅ How to Enroll in Property Fraud Alert

Signing up is easy and takes just a few minutes. Here’s how:

1️⃣ Go to the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds website.
2️⃣ Look for the Property Fraud Alert section.
3️⃣ Enter your name and choose your preferred notification method (email or phone).
4️⃣ Confirm your registration.

That’s it! Once enrolled, you’ll start receiving alerts any time a document is filed with your name.

💬 A Local Realtor’s Perspective

As a St. Louis real estate professional, I always tell my clients: Owning a home is one of life’s biggest achievements, but it also comes with responsibilities. It’s not just about paying your mortgage or keeping up with maintenance — it’s about staying vigilant and protecting your title and ownership.

While title insurance helps protect against past claims or issues, Property Fraud Alert helps you keep an eye on what’s happening right now. It’s one more layer of protection that gives homeowners peace of mind.

📣 Final Thoughts: Take Action Today

If you’ve worked with me before, you know I’m passionate about helping homeowners protect their investments — not just when you’re buying or selling, but for the long haul.

That’s why I strongly recommend every St. Louis County property owner take advantage of this free service. It costs you nothing, takes only minutes to set up, and could make all the difference if fraudsters ever target your home.

If you need help signing up, want to learn more about protecting your property, or have questions about the local real estate market, I’m here for you.

Reach out anytime — whether you’re looking to buy, sell, or simply safeguard your biggest asset, I’m ready to help you make smart, informed decisions.

👉 Ready to sign up? Visit the St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds website today and enroll in Property Fraud Alert — because when it comes to protecting your home, it’s better to be safe than sorry.