PALM BEACH COUNTY, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — Property fraud is surging in Palm Beach County, and officials are pushing a free tool they say can give homeowners an early warning when something changes in the public records tied to their name or property.
Data from the State Attorney’s Office shows property fraud prosecutions rose from four cases in 2023 to 184 cases in 2025. Clerk of the Circuit Court & Comptroller Mike Caruso described the theft of real estate as “an epidemic,” and said the number of cases could reach 800 this year.
At the center of the county’s message is the Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert service, a free subscription that sends an email notification when a document is recorded in the Official Records of Palm Beach County that exactly matches the name, address, or parcel number a user registered to monitor.
The Clerk’s Office says reviewing property records is an important step in protecting against fraud, and that alerts can provide time to respond if a document shows up that was not initiated by the owner. The service is built on exact-match monitoring, meaning the alert triggers only when the recorded document matches the name, address, or parcel number entered during registration.
To improve the odds of catching suspicious activity, the Clerk’s Office recommends registering all name and address variations a property owner might use, including middle names, middle initials, abbreviations, and address shorthand. A homeowner named Mary Smith, for example, may want separate registrations for Mary Smith, Mary Ellen Smith, and Mary E Smith. Address entries may also need multiple variations, such as “123 First Street West Palm Beach,” “123 First St,” “WPB,” or “123 1st St WPB.”
The Clerk’s Office also advises that each person should register separately. A couple monitoring the same property would need separate entries under each individual name, rather than a combined registration.
Other guidance focuses on avoiding small formatting errors that can prevent an exact match. The Clerk’s Office says users should not include periods, commas, or apostrophes when registering. Trusts should be registered as a business name, with the last word being “trust.” Business names starting with “The” should be entered without “The.” Parcel numbers, if used, should include all 17 digits.
Signing up is designed to be quick. Residents can choose whether they want to monitor a person’s name or a business name, enter the name to be monitored, enter the street address and/or parcel number, then provide an email address. Users can also select a language preference before requesting a confirmation email to complete enrollment. The Clerk’s Office says the process can be repeated to monitor additional names.
If a document is recorded that exactly matches the monitoring criteria, the Clerk’s Office says an alert will be sent within 24 hours. The alert email is expected to include the document type, the Clerk’s File Number (CFN), and the book and page number, along with a link to view the document through the county’s online Official Records system.
The Clerk’s Office also outlines what residents should do if an alert raises concerns. People who suspect they are a victim of fraud are urged to seek legal advice and contact law enforcement. The office notes that property owners may also consider filing a case in civil court, depending on the situation.
The county’s guidance also includes warning signs residents should take seriously. These include recorded documents tied to a property that the owner never signed, forged signatures, ownership transfers made without the owner’s knowledge, documents signed by someone who was deceased at the time of execution, or loans taken out without the owner’s knowledge. The Clerk’s Office also flags practical red flags like suddenly stopping receipt of a tax bill or official notices, receiving loan documents for a loan the owner did not obtain, or getting a notice of default when the owner believes payments are current or the home is owned free and clear.
For buyers, the office lists separate scam indicators, including sellers pushing for a rushed closing, insisting on email-only communication, offering deals that seem “too good to be true,” requesting cryptocurrency, or providing suspicious wiring instructions.
The Clerk’s Office says cancellation requests can be made by email, but must come from the email address currently registered with the alert, and should specify which names, addresses, and/or parcel numbers should be removed.
The Clerk’s Office also states that email addresses, names, and parcel numbers used to register for Property Fraud Alerts are protected from public disclosure under section 28.47(5)(b), Florida Statutes.
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