How to Protect Your Home from Deed Fraud in Texas: Free County Property Alert Guide

Property fraud—often referred to as deed fraud or title theft—is one of the fastest-growing financial and real estate crimes in the United States. Scammers and fraudsters search public records to find homes with high equity, vacant lots, or properties owned by seniors, and file forged deeds or unauthorized liens against them without the owner’s knowledge.

Fortunately, county clerk offices across Texas offer free Property Fraud Alert services. When a deed, mortgage, or lien is filed under your name, the county’s system automatically alerts you via email or text message, giving you early detection to stop fraudulent activity before it causes major legal damage.

Why Should You Register for Property Alerts?

Property fraud alert systems do not automatically block documents from being filed (county clerks are required by law to record documents that meet legal filing criteria). However, early notification is critical. If a fake deed or fraudulent lien is filed against your property, receiving an immediate alert allows you and your attorney to take legal action right away to quiet the title and report the crime before a fraudster attempts to mortgage or sell your property.

Texas County Clerk Contact Directory & Fraud Alert Portals

Below is a direct contact guide for key Texas counties, including links to County Clerk websites, phone numbers, email addresses, and direct enrollment links for property fraud alert services:

County	County Clerk Website	Phone Number	Contact Email	Property Fraud Alert Link
Bexar	Bexar County Clerk	(210) 335-2216	countyclerk@bexar.org	Register for Bexar Alerts
Brazoria	Brazoria County Clerk	(979) 864-1662	cletis@brazoriacountytx.gov	Register for Brazoria Alerts
Brazos	Brazos County Clerk	(979) 361-4128	countyclerk@brazoscountytx.gov	Register for Brazos Alerts
Collin	Collin County Clerk	(972) 548-4185	cclerk@collincountytx.gov	Register for Collin Alerts
Dallas	Dallas County Clerk	(214) 653-7099	property.fraud@dallascounty.org	Register for Dallas Alerts
Denton	Denton County Clerk	(940) 349-2012	countyclerk@dentoncounty.gov	Register for Denton Alerts
El Paso	El Paso County Clerk	(915) 546-2071	countyclerk@epcounty.com	Register for El Paso Alerts
Fort Bend	Fort Bend County Clerk	(281) 341-8685	cclerk@fortbendcountytx.gov	Register for Fort Bend Alerts
Galveston	Galveston County Clerk	(409) 766-2200	galvestoncountyclerk@co.galveston.tx.us	Register for Galveston Alerts
Harris	Harris County Clerk	(713) 274-8680	cc_webmaster@cclerk.hctx.net	Register for Harris Alerts
Hays	Hays County Clerk	(512) 393-7738	hayscountyclerk@co.hays.tx.us	Register for Hays Alerts
Hidalgo	Hidalgo County Clerk	(956) 318-2100	county.clerk@co.hidalgo.tx.us	Register for Hidalgo Alerts
Jefferson	Jefferson County Clerk	(409) 835-8475	countyclerk@co.jefferson.tx.us	Register for Jefferson Alerts
Kaufman	Kaufman County Clerk	(972) 932-4331	countyclerk@kaufmancounty.net	Register for Kaufman Alerts
Lubbock	Lubbock County Clerk	(806) 775-1048	countyclerk@lubbockcounty.gov	Register for Lubbock Alerts
Montgomery	Montgomery County Clerk	(936) 539-7885	mctxcountyclerk@mctx.org	Register for Montgomery Alerts
Nueces	Nueces County Clerk	(361) 888-0580	county.clerk@nuecesco.com	Register for Nueces Alerts
Smith	Smith County Clerk	(903) 590-4670	countyclerk@smith-county.com	Register for Smith Alerts
Tarrant	Tarrant County Clerk	(817) 884-1195	countyclerk@tarrantcountytx.gov	Register for Tarrant Alerts
Travis	Travis County Clerk	(512) 854-9188	recorders@traviscountytx.gov	Register for Travis Alerts
Webb	Webb County Clerk	(956) 523-4258	webbcountyclerk@webbcountytx.gov	Register for Webb Alerts
Williamson	Williamson County Clerk	(512) 943-1515	ccclerk@wilco.org	Register for Williamson Alerts

How to Sign Up if Your County Isn’t Listed

If your county is not included in the table above, most mid-sized and rural Texas counties utilize one of three major third-party record portals to manage their property fraud notifications:

1. Property Fraud Alert (Fidlar Technologies) – Select Texas from the dropdown menu, choose your county, and enter your full legal name or legal entity (LLC, Trust, etc.).
2. GovOS / Kofile Property Fraud Notify – Many Texas counties host their public deed indexes on the Kofile system; search your county here to subscribe to alerts.
3. Texas SOS Official Directory – Access direct contact numbers and official addresses for all 254 Texas County Clerk offices.

What to Do If You Receive an Alert

If you receive a notification for a document filing that you did not initiate:

1. Contact Your County Clerk Immediately: Use the phone number or email listed above to request an official copy of the recorded document.
2. Consult a Real Estate Attorney: A licensed Texas real estate lawyer can help file an affidavit or legal action to clear fraudulent encumbrances.
3. Report the Crime: File a report with local law enforcement and report the fraudulent filing to the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Disclaimer: This guide is provided for informational purposes. If you suspect fraudulent activity regarding your property title, please contact your local County Clerk’s office or a qualified real estate attorney immediately.