Key facts
- Twelve states now have laws addressing deed theft, up from seven in April.
- New laws in Arizona and Maryland took effect in September and October, respectively.
- 29 states still lack specific deed theft statutes.
- Real estate fraud complaints rose to 12,368 in 2025, with reported losses of $275.1 million.
- 59% of title companies experienced seller impersonation fraud attempts in 2025, up from 28% in 2024.
- Properties owned free and clear are common targets for deed fraud.
The number of states with dedicated laws to combat deed theft has increased to twelve, up from seven in April, according to EquityProtect's latest Property Protection Scorecard. This legislative expansion comes as reported real estate fraud continues to rise. New laws in Alabama and Maryland took effect on October 1, and Arizona's law became effective on September 12, enhancing measures such as identity verification and felony charges for fraudulent document recording.
Despite this progress, 29 states still lack specific statutes addressing deed theft. Efforts to advance legislation in Pennsylvania and South Carolina have stalled. Data from the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center indicates a significant increase in real estate fraud, with 12,368 complaints reported in 2025, resulting in $275.1 million in losses, up from $173.6 million in 2024. A study by the American Land Title Association (ALTA) found that 59% of title companies experienced seller impersonation fraud attempts in 2025, a substantial rise from 28% in 2024. Among firms that paid claims, half reported average claims exceeding $100,000.
Properties owned free and clear were identified as common targets by 68% of ALTA respondents, with primary residences being targeted by 25%. The use of manipulated voice or image technology is also becoming more prevalent in fraud schemes. Seniors accounted for 44% of reported dollar losses from real estate fraud, despite representing 19% of victims. Victims can incur substantial legal fees, ranging from $50,000 to $150,000, when trying to restore ownership.
Arizona's new law makes knowingly recording false property documents a felony and requires thumbprints and photo identification for deed recordings. Maryland's law establishes a task force to study deed fraud. Alabama's act mandates seller identity verification for high-risk transactions and allows the state Securities Commission to void fraudulent sales. Tennessee and Virginia also implemented new verification requirements in July.
In September, the New Jersey State Commission of Investigation reported an increase in deed fraud and recommended expedited hearings and stronger identity verification. Meanwhile, deed theft legislation in Pennsylvania and South Carolina has not advanced further in their respective legislative cycles. EquityProtect noted that 15 states remain in study or monitoring phases without dedicated statutes, and eight states have taken no legislative action.