How to Prevent Title Theft in Georgia for Free

How to Prevent Title Theft in Georgia for Free

Jul 09, 2025

So you're a Georgia homeowner, and you've probably seen those late-night commercials warning that "someone could steal your home's title right out from under you!" 😱 Then they pitch you a $15/month subscription to lock your title, as if that's a real thing.

Spoiler alert: it’s not. But here’s the good news — Georgia offers real, free protection against home title fraud. No gimmicks. No subscriptions. Just good ol’ government systems doing their job (yes, really).

🎯 The Short Answer

Sign up for two free alert systems: Cherokee County’s Recording Activity Notification and Georgia’s FANS program. Together, they notify you if anyone tries to file documents under your name or property.

📬 Why Keep Reading?

Because you’ll learn how to sign up step-by-step, and why this free coverage is actually better than paid services like TitleLock. Plus, we’ll bust a few myths that scammy companies don’t want you to know.

🛑 What Is Home Title Theft, Really?

First, let’s clear the fog.

“Title theft” is when a criminal forges a deed or mortgage under your name to steal ownership or equity from your property. It’s rare, but when it happens, it can be devastating — leading to fake liens, lawsuits, or worse.

But here’s the thing: No one can steal your home just by filing a document. Property ownership in Georgia (and everywhere else) is based on legally valid documents, not just whatever’s recorded with the county.

"If someone forges your signature on a deed, it’s not legally binding — but it can cause legal headaches if you’re not paying attention."

— Georgia Office of the Attorney General


🏛️ The County-Level Hero: Recording Activity Notification

Cherokee County offers a free service that works like a hawk watching your property records.

✅ What It Is

The Recording Activity Notification is run through Cherokee County’s Landmark portal. When you sign up, you’ll get an email alert any time a deed, lien, mortgage, or plat is filed under your name.

🔐 Why It Works

This puts you on offense instead of defense. You’ll know within hours or days if something sketchy hits your record — giving you time to stop fraud before it turns into a legal quagmire.

🚀 How to Sign Up (Takes 2 Minutes)

  1. Go to the Landmark Fraud Alert Registration.
  2. Enter your name as it appears on property records.
  3. Add your email.
  4. That’s it — you’re in.

You can also check the Clerk’s Deeds and Records for more info.

🌐 The Statewide Backup: Filing Activity Notification System (FANS)

The state of Georgia wasn’t about to let Cherokee County have all the fun. Enter: FANS, a statewide fraud alert system from the Georgia Superior Court Clerks’ Cooperative Authority (GSCCCA).

📢 What FANS Does

FANS lets you track recordings under your name in ANY Georgia county — not just where you live. If someone files a lien against you in Fulton, Hall, or Savannah, you’ll know.

🛠️ Setup Steps (Also Super Easy)

  1. Visit the FANS Portal.
  2. Enter your name (and optional address).
  3. Choose the counties you want to monitor (you can select all).
  4. Add your contact info and confirm.

Boom. Now you’re covered statewide.

❌ Why You Don’t Need TitleLock (Or Its Cousins)

Let’s be real. Companies like TitleLock are not insurance. They can’t stop a fraudulent deed from being filed. What they do is notify you after the fact — which, surprise — is exactly what these free government tools already do.


✅Even the FTC and the Georgia Attorney General caution homeowners not to pay for title-lock services when better options are free.

Source: FTC Consumer Alert


🔍 Bonus Tip: Google Yourself

Still want an extra layer of DIY surveillance?

Set up a Google Alert for your name or property address. That way, if someone posts your property info on shady sites or it pops up in a new listing, you’ll know right away.

How to do it:

  1. Go to Google Alerts.
  2. Enter your property address in quotes (e.g., "123 Main Street, Woodstock, GA").
  3. Choose how often you want notifications.
  4. Hit “Create Alert.”

Recommended by the Georgia Consumer Protection Division.

📌 Final Checklist: Protect Your Title in 5 Minutes

Want the TL;DR version? Here’s what to do right now:

  1. ✅ Sign up for Cherokee County’s alert system
  2. 👉 Recording Activity Notification
  3. ✅ Register with Georgia FANS
  4. 👉 FANS Signup
  5. ✅ Set a Google Alert for your address
  6. ❌ Cancel that TitleLock trial — you don’t need it
  7. 💬 Tell your neighbors — protect the whole street

🧠 Final Thoughts: Don’t Pay for Peace of Mind

Home title theft is real, but rare — and totally manageable with the right tools. Thanks to Georgia’s forward-thinking public systems, you don’t need a credit card to stay protected.

You just need to stay informed — and now, you are. 💪