Deed or title fraud is when a scammer forges a property owner's signature on a deed or mortgage and records it with the county, making it appear they own or have a lien on your home. They may then try to sell it, borrow against your equity, or rent it out. It's a growing risk for vacant and free-and-clear properties.

How can absentee owners in Naples protect against title fraud?

Register for the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller's free Property Fraud Alert. It monitors the county's official land records and emails you within about 24–48 hours if any document — deed, mortgage, lien, or notice of commencement — is recorded under your name (or your LLC/trust's name), so you can act before money changes hands.

Is the Collier County Property Fraud Alert really free?

Yes — it's a free service from the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller. You don't need a paid third-party title-monitoring subscription. Register the exact name(s) on your deed, including any U.S. LLC or trust, and the email you check most often.

Protect Your Naples Home From Deed Fraud While You're Away

Owning a luxury home in Southwest Florida is a cornerstone of many international wealth portfolios. But managing an asset from thousands of miles away calls for a specific playbook. Most absentee owners obsess over hurricane prep and maintenance — and miss a fast-growing, completely invisible risk: deed fraud.

If you spend your summers in Ontario, Europe, or Latin America, here’s what to know about property fraud in Collier County — and the free, five-minute step you can take today.

What is deed fraud?

Deed fraud (or title fraud) happens when a scammer forges an owner’s signature on a deed or mortgage and records it with the county. Once that paperwork is filed, the fraudster legally appears to own your home. From there they can try to quickly sell it, take out a large loan against your equity, or rent it out and pocket the cash.

Why international and absentee owners are prime targets

Scammers look for the path of least resistance, and absentee luxury owners check every box:

Vacant homes. If a property sits empty half the year, no one is around to notice strangers or intercept suspicious mail.
Homes without a mortgage. Free-and-clear properties (common for international cash buyers) have no bank actively watching the title.
Out-of-country addresses. Official county notices mailed overseas can take weeks to arrive — if they arrive at all — giving fraud a head start.

The solution: Collier County’s free Property Fraud Alert

You do not need a paid subscription service. The Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller offers a free Property Fraud Alert for property owners.

Register your name, and the system monitors the county’s official land records. If any document — a deed, mortgage, lien, or notice of commencement — is recorded under your name, the Clerk’s office emails you an alert (typically within about 24–48 hours). That early warning is everything: if something fraudulent is filed, you can immediately contact law enforcement and a Florida real estate attorney to freeze it before any money moves.

How to register (about five minutes)

Go to the Clerk’s site. Search “Collier County property fraud alert,” or go to the Collier County Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller’s website and find the Property Fraud Alert / records-notification page.
Register your name exactly as it appears on your deed. If the property is held in a U.S. LLC or trust, register that entity’s exact legal name too.
Use the email you actually check. For international owners, email beats relying on overseas mail for urgent notices.

A note: this is general information, not legal advice, and county programs can change — confirm the current service and registration steps on the Collier County Clerk’s official website.

Peace of mind for the global owner

Protecting your Naples home shouldn’t weigh on you while you’re enjoying the summer abroad. Five minutes with the county secures your equity and your peace of mind. For the bigger picture on owning here from overseas — taxes, insurance, structuring, and managing the property remotely — see our International Buyer’s Guide to Naples Real Estate.

Have questions about managing an absentee property, or expanding your Collier County portfolio? Contact Nick Nolan — a local expert on the ground makes all the difference.

Sources & further reading

Collier Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller — register for the free Anti-Fraud (Property) Risk Alert Notification Program.
FBI — Fraudsters Are Stealing Land Out From Under Owners (how deed and title fraud works, and how to guard against it). Report suspected fraud to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
FTC — Home title “lock” insurance? Not a lock at all (why a free county alert usually beats paid title-monitoring products).
Related: our guide to owning a Naples home from abroad.

General information for Naples property owners, not legal advice. County programs change — confirm the current registration steps on the Collier Clerk’s official website, and if you suspect a fraudulent filing, contact the Clerk’s office and a Florida real estate attorney promptly.