Title Theft - Arizona - Maricopa Phoenix Scottsdale Mesa Glendale Etc

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Amid a rise in title theft, Maricopa County has a new alert system. Here's what to know

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news...

The Maricopa County Recorder's Office is launching a new alert system to fight a rising number of fraud schemes in which homes are sold out from under property owners, officials said.

And last year, the Arizona Attorney General's Office issued a warning to homeowners after investigators noticed "a disturbing trend" of dozens of complaints of title theft from across the state.

To sign up, homeowners must create an account on the Maricopa County Recorder's Office website with a valid email address. Then, they can enter personal or business names to track. After subscribing to the system, they'll receive email notifications each time any of those names appear in a newly recorded document and a link to view a PDF of the filing.

Sign Up Here   https://recorder.maricopa.gov/...

[Peter Walther]

This is why deeds are required to have two witness and be notarized.  It's easy enough to ask each of them (assuming they can be found) who appeared before you and signed the deed.  If it wasn't the actual owner, title did not pass, and the buyer better have obtained title insurance (even if it's a cash deal).  If the buyer did, that's when the title insurer gets involved.

In my experience, the majority of forged deeds (though certainly not all) involve vacant land, not mortgaged and an out of state owner.  It makes it easier to perpetrate the crime.