The Spokane Police Department issued a formal warning in November 2025 about a growing national crime targeting local homeowners. Title fraud and deed theft happen when a criminal forges your signature on a deed, files it with the Spokane County Auditor's Office, and transfers ownership of your home to themselves without your knowledge. By the time most Spokane homeowners discover it, the criminal has already borrowed against the property or attempted to sell it.
How Title Fraud and Deed Theft Work in Spokane, WA
Title fraud is a form of identity theft specifically targeting real property.
- A criminal identifies a target property in Spokane, often a vacant home, a rental, an inherited property, or a home owned free and clear with no mortgage
- They forge the owner's signature using a fake ID and file a fraudulent deed with the Spokane County Auditor's Recording Department at 1116 W Broadway Ave
- Once the deed records, the criminal appears as the legal owner and can borrow against the home's equity or attempt to sell the property
- According to the FBI, real estate crimes including title theft resulted in nearly $175 million in losses in 2024 alone
- KHQ reported a real Spokane case in 2025 where a homeowner discovered a fraudulent deed had been filed against his property after a neighbor noticed suspicious activity near the home
Who Is Most at Risk for Title Fraud in Spokane
- Owners of vacant or inherited properties in Spokane County
- Seniors who own their homes free and clear with no active mortgage lender monitoring the title
- Owners of rental properties or second homes who do not regularly check county records
- Estates in probate where the property sits vacant during the court process
- The National Association of Realtors found that 62% of title fraud cases involved vacant land or non-owner-occupied properties
How to Protect Your Spokane Home From Title Fraud
1. Monitor Spokane County Auditor recording activity on your property
- The Spokane County Auditor's Recording Department maintains a public index of all recorded documents at spokanecounty.org
- Spokane County Auditor Vicky Dalton advised homeowners in 2025 to check their physical property record and mailing address in the Assessor and Treasurer property tax records at least once per year
- A fraudster often changes the property's mailing address before filing a fraudulent deed, so a sudden address change in county records is a red flag
2. Purchase owner's title insurance with fraud coverage
- Owner's title insurance purchased at closing protects against fraudulent deed claims filed after the purchase
- Review your existing policy language to confirm whether post-purchase fraud is covered
- Policies purchased in 1999 and later frequently include this coverage
3. Keep your mailing address current in Spokane County records
- Verify your mailing address in the Spokane County GIS Map system at spokanecounty.org under the GIS Map tile
- Use your parcel number or address to locate your record and confirm all information is current and accurate
4. Monitor your credit report annually
- An unexpected mortgage or lien appearing on your credit report can be the first sign that someone has borrowed against your Spokane property using a fraudulent deed
5. Report suspicious activity immediately
- If you suspect title fraud on a Spokane property, contact the Spokane Police Department non-emergency line at 509-456-2233
- File a report with the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center
- Contact the Spokane County Auditor's Recording Department immediately to flag the fraudulent document
🌟 How Emiley and Zech Help Spokane Homeowners Stay Protected
- They advise every Spokane client on title insurance coverage at the time of purchase
- They flag title issues identified during the Spokane County Auditor's search before closing
- For inherited and probate properties, Zech reviews the title record before any action is taken on the property
- They connect Spokane homeowners with licensed title professionals and elder law attorneys when title fraud is suspected
- The first conversation with Emiley and Zech is always free
Reach out to Emiley and Zech at Rios and Co Real Estate if you have questions about title protection for a Spokane property.
Rios and Co Real Estate · eXp Realty · Spokane, WA
