TL;DR: Title fraud — where a criminal forges documents to steal or sell your property — cost real estate sector victims $174 million in 2024 alone. Myrtle Beach and Horry County property owners face elevated exposure due to the area's high volume of non-owner-occupied properties. Understanding how this fraud works, and what protective steps exist, is the most direct way to safeguard your ownership.
The Threat Most Myrtle Beach Property Owners Don't Know About
Owning real estate along the Grand Strand has always meant owning something valuable. According to the Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® MLS (2025 Annual Report), the broader Coastal Carolinas market recorded 16,128 closed sales in 2025, with Myrtle Beach alone carrying 8.4 months of inventory — much of it held by non-resident owners. That combination of high transaction volume and widespread absentee ownership creates exactly the conditions that title fraudsters look for.
The scale of the problem nationally is significant. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3, 2024 Annual Report), cyber-enabled real estate fraud resulted in $174 million in losses in 2024, with 12,368 complaints filed related to real estate transactions. The American Land Title Association (ALTA, August 2025) reported that the average title insurance fraud and forgery claim now costs more than $143,000 — a figure that can financially devastate a household or wipe out equity built over years.
Title fraud is not a theoretical risk. It is documented, growing, and actively targeting markets like Horry County.
How Title Fraud Actually Happens
Understanding the mechanics helps property owners recognize warning signs early. Title fraud doesn't typically require sophisticated technology. It exploits the public nature of property records and the fact that deed recording offices process filings in high volume without verifying the identity of every person behind a document.
Here is how a common scheme unfolds:
Information gathering. The fraudster identifies a target property — often one that appears vacant, has an absentee owner, or carries no mortgage. Public records, tax data, and online property listings are freely accessible. According to ALTA (2025), 62 percent of recently reported title fraud cases involved vacant land, and only 12 percent occurred on owner-occupied property.
Document forgery. The criminal creates a forged deed — often using real notary credentials obtained without the notary's knowledge. Per ALTA's 2024 industry study, fake notary credentials were the most common notarization issue in seller impersonation fraud cases (43 percent), followed by use of real credentials without permission (31 percent).
Recording. The fraudulent deed is submitted to the county recorder's office. Because recording offices generally do not authenticate signatures, the document often goes through unchallenged.
Monetization. The fraudster then sells the property to an unsuspecting buyer or uses the falsely transferred title as collateral to borrow funds.
According to the National Association of REALTORS® (2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers), 88 percent of buyers complete purchases through a real estate agent or broker, and 92 percent of previously owned home buyers rely on an agent throughout the transaction. A professional, title-search-inclusive transaction offers built-in protection — but private or off-market deals may skip these steps entirely.
Why the Grand Strand Is a Target-Rich Environment
Not every market carries the same risk profile. The Myrtle Beach area has specific characteristics that make it attractive to bad actors — and that property owners here should understand directly.
According to the 2025 CCAR MLS Annual Report, 73.3 percent of Myrtle Beach's market activity involved condo and townhouse properties, the highest rate of any area in the Coastal Carolinas region. A large share of these units are held as investment or vacation properties, meaning they sit unoccupied for extended periods. ALTA's research (2025) confirms that non-owner-occupied properties are the primary target of seller impersonation fraud precisely because it can take months or years for the actual owner to discover anything is wrong.
The February 2026 NAR REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey found that 16 percent of all national sales were for non-primary-residence use. In resort and coastal markets like the Grand Strand, that share trends even higher. Combine that with Myrtle Beach's 8.4 months of supply reported by CCAR MLS (January 2026) — signaling a large pool of properties sitting between buyers and sellers — and the exposure window is clear.
ALTA's 2024 industry study also flagged all-cash transactions and mail-away signings using an unknown notary as the two most common red flags in seller impersonation cases, with 88 percent and 86 percent of title companies identifying these patterns, respectively. Both transaction types are more common in vacation and investment property markets than in primary residence transactions.
Common red flags to watch for on your own property:
Loan statements or debt collection notices for a mortgage you never opened
Missing property tax notices (a sign someone may have changed the mailing address on record)
Unexpected correspondence addressed to unfamiliar names at your property address
Deed records showing a transfer you did not authorize
A title search returning liens or ownership gaps you didn't create
How to Protect Your Myrtle Beach Property from Title Fraud
The good news: practical, accessible protections exist. What they require is consistent attention.
Protection Comparison: Key Options for Property Owners
Source: American Land Title Association (ALTA), August 2025; Horry County Government
| Protection Method | What It Covers | Cost/Effort |
|---|---|---|
| Owner's Title Insurance | Covers legal costs and losses from covered title defects, including fraud and forgery claims | One-time premium at closing; ongoing protection |
| ALTA Fraud Endorsements (New, 2025) | Post-policy protection against forgery of a deed or mortgage added to existing coverage | Available to new and existing homeowners; contact a title company for details |
| Property Record Monitoring | Early detection of unauthorized deed filings or transfers | Free via Horry County public records; private alert services also available |
| Agent-Assisted Transactions | Title search, escrow management, and verified closing procedures built into the process | Included in agent-assisted sales, which represented 91% of all 2025 transactions (NAR, 2025) |
Sources: American Land Title Association (ALTA), August 2025 press release; Horry County Government, horrycountysc.gov; NAR 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers
Additional steps worth taking:
Secure your personal identifying information. ALTA's 2024 study found that fraudsters routinely use real property owners' Social Security numbers and driver's license information in forged transactions. Limiting exposure of this data reduces targeting risk.
Review your Horry County deed record periodically. Horry County maintains public property records through horrycountysc.gov. A quick search once or twice a year takes minutes and costs nothing.
Verify notary credentials on any document you sign. ALTA's updated Best Practices framework (August 2025) now recommends stronger controls over notary and signing agent selection for every real estate closing.
Programs and endorsement availability are subject to change. Verify current details with a licensed title company or real estate attorney.
What to Do If You Suspect Title Fraud on Your Property
If you discover an unauthorized deed transfer or suspect your title has been compromised, time is a factor. The steps below are not legal advice — consult a licensed real estate attorney in South Carolina for guidance specific to your situation.
Contact your title insurance company immediately if a policy is in force.
File a complaint with Horry County's register of deeds and document the discrepancy in writing.
Report the fraud to the FBI via ic3.gov — the IC3 is the primary federal reporting channel for real estate-related fraud.
Notify local law enforcement and, if applicable, the South Carolina Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.
Consult a real estate attorney about filing a quiet title action to restore clear ownership in the public record.
Place a fraud alert with major credit bureaus to limit a fraudster's ability to open new credit in your name.
Resolving title fraud is a legal process that takes time. Early detection and preventive steps carry significant practical weight precisely because recovery is far harder than prevention.
Title fraud is a growing threat — and the Myrtle Beach market's mix of investment properties, absentee owners, and high transaction volume makes proactive protection especially important here. If you have questions about buying, selling, or protecting real estate in the Grand Strand area, the team at Carolina Crafted Homes is here to help you navigate the process with clarity. Get in touch with us to start the conversation.
FAQ SECTION
Q1: What is title fraud in real estate? Title fraud — also called deed fraud or home title theft — occurs when a criminal forges or falsifies deed documents to transfer ownership of a property without the rightful owner's knowledge or consent. According to the American Land Title Association (ALTA, 2025), deed fraud involves illegally recording a real estate title transfer so the fraudster can sell the property or borrow against it. Property owners typically discover the fraud only after receiving unexpected financial notices or during a subsequent title search. Consult a licensed real estate attorney if you suspect any irregular activity on your Horry County property title.
Q2: How common is title fraud nationally, and should Myrtle Beach property owners be concerned? The FBI's IC3 (2024 Annual Report) recorded 12,368 real estate fraud complaints nationally, with $174 million in sector losses. ALTA (August 2025) reported that 28 percent of title companies experienced at least one seller impersonation fraud attempt in 2023, and that figure was climbing. Myrtle Beach is particularly exposed: 73.3 percent of its market is condo and townhouse properties (CCAR MLS, 2025), many held by non-resident owners — exactly the profile that ALTA identifies as the primary target of deed fraud attempts.
Q3: Does title insurance protect against deed fraud? Owner's title insurance covers claims arising from defects in the chain of title, including fraudulently recorded deeds. In August 2025, ALTA announced two new policy endorsements that provide post-policy protection against forgery of a deed or mortgage — meaning existing homeowners can now add this coverage even after their original closing. The average fraud and forgery claim costs more than $143,000 (ALTA, August 2025), making coverage worth understanding. Coverage terms vary; verify details and availability with a licensed title company. Programs subject to change; consult a licensed professional.
Q4: How can I monitor my Horry County property records for unauthorized changes? Horry County maintains publicly accessible property records through its government portal at horrycountysc.gov. Searching your deed history and current ownership record is free and takes only a few minutes. Reviewing your record once or twice a year is one of the simplest early-detection steps available, particularly for owners of investment or vacation properties who are not present at the property regularly.
Q5: What should I do if I discover an unauthorized deed transfer on my Grand Strand property? Contact your title insurance company immediately if you have an active policy. Document the discrepancy and notify Horry County's register of deeds in writing. File a complaint with the FBI via ic3.gov — it is the federal government's primary channel for reporting real estate fraud. Consult a licensed South Carolina real estate attorney about a quiet title action to restore clear ownership. Place a fraud alert with major credit bureaus to limit further exposure. This is not legal advice; consult a licensed professional for guidance specific to your situation.
Q6: Is title fraud the same thing as wire fraud in real estate? No — these are two distinct crimes that target different parts of a transaction. Wire fraud redirects the financial transfer of closing funds to a fraudulent account. Title fraud targets property ownership records through forged or falsified deed documents. Both are documented, growing threats in the real estate sector. Our related post on wire fraud in Myrtle Beach real estate covers the wire side in full detail, and our post on deepfake scams covers AI-enabled fraud tactics now appearing in transactions.
Sources
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® MLS — 2025 Annual Report on the Coastal Carolinas Housing Market: https://www.ccarsc.org/pages/marketstats/
Coastal Carolinas Association of REALTORS® MLS — Local Market Updates, February 2026: https://www.ccarsc.org/pages/marketstats/
National Association of REALTORS® — 2025 Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers: https://www.nar.realtor/
National Association of REALTORS® — REALTORS® Confidence Index Survey, February 2026: https://www.nar.realtor/
American Land Title Association (ALTA) — Fraud Protection & August 2025 Press Release: https://www.alta.org/
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) — 2024 Annual Report: https://www.ic3.gov/
Horry County Government — Public Property Records: https://horrycountysc.gov/
Wire Fraud in Myrtle Beach Real Estate: What Buyers Need to Know
Deepfake Scams in Real Estate: What Myrtle Beach Buyers Should Know
