By Cris Alarcon, InEDC Writer. Feb 13, 2026)
El Dorado County Offers Free Property Monitoring Tool to Combat Title and Deed Fraud
Residents concerned about deed theft and title fraud now have access to a free property monitoring service through the El Dorado County Recorder-Clerk’s Office, part of a broader push to counter a growing category of real estate crime.
County Recorder-Clerk Janelle Horn announced the launch of a no-cost property monitoring program designed to alert owners when documents are recorded against their property or when suspicious listing activity appears online. The system was introduced amid increasing reports nationwide of fraudulent transfers, forged deeds and illegal property listings targeting vacant land and mortgage-free homes.
“This is what we can do to help,” “We hope that everybody signs up for it. There’s no reason why not every single property should be monitored in El Dorado County.”
Horn said in a public interview about the program.
The county partnered with Equity Protect, a firm with decades of experience in mortgage and title industries. According to Horn, the service goes beyond basic recorded-document alerts by also scanning third-party real estate marketplaces and portions of the dark web where stolen property data is sometimes traded.
How the Monitoring Program Works
Property owners who enroll receive email alerts tied to their name, parcel number or property address. The system continuously checks recorded documents, assessor and tax records, and public listing sites for signs of unauthorized activity. Monthly status reports are also issued, even when no suspicious events are found.
Enrollment requires only a name, property address or APN, and an email address. Coverage remains active unless the user cancels.
Horn said many commercial services sell similar monitoring with aggressive advertising, but the county-negotiated version is offered free to local residents.
“We are doing the same thing but better — and it’s free,”
she said.
Who Faces the Highest Risk
Officials say the properties most often targeted include vacant land, unoccupied homes, and parcels owned free and clear or with minimal mortgage balances. Fraud schemes can involve forged deeds or fake sales listings designed to move property before the real owner is aware.
“It has happened here in El Dorado County,” Horn said of fraudulent attempts involving local parcels. “It is definitely something to make sure that you’re having your property monitored.”
Optional Paid Layer Adds Title Cloud and Insurance
In addition to the free monitoring, the vendor offers an optional paid tier that places a recorded notice intended to create a title “cloud,” requiring extra verification before a transfer can close. That tier also includes up to a $1 million insurance-backed remediation benefit to cover legal and court costs if fraud occurs and title must be restored. Participation in the paid layer is not required to receive the county’s free alerts.
How to Enroll
Residents can enroll through the Recorder-Clerk section of the county website, where a property monitoring link directs users to the registration page. Property owners outside the county may also enroll directly through the vendor’s site, though some monitoring features may vary by jurisdiction.
County officials say early detection is the key control: prompt alerts give owners time to contact the Recorder-Clerk, title companies and law enforcement before fraudulent transfers are completed.
