Protecting Your Identity, Your Credit, and Your Home:
A Friendly, Detailed Guide for Homeowners and Homebuyers

At House Karma, we know that buying a home is one of life’s biggest accomplishments. But it also puts a target on your back for identity thieves and fraudsters. 

The reality is that homeowners, especially those with equity, are prime targets for scams like mortgage fraud, title theft, and credit fraud. 

New homeowners are also particularly susceptible because your new home purchase just showed up in the county records and quickly got syndicated and published on all the real estate websites as a recent sale. It is then very easy for anyone to look for recent home sales and cross-reference them online with the county public tax records, and obtain your full legal name and new address.

That’s why we’re here to break it all down in simple, plain language—so you understand what’s at stake, how easy it is for scammers to strike, and how to protect yourself and your family. Plus, we’ll show you how House Karma is on your side every step of the way, with free identity theft protection that we had included with the home warranty offered through our preferred partner.

Let’s dive in!

How Easy It Really Is to Steal Someone’s Identity

Let’s start with the sad reality;  stealing someone’s identity is much easier than most people think. If you’re a homeowner (or soon to be one), you’re a prime target because you have a property, an address, and often a nice chunk of equity that thieves see as easy money. Also, as you are now a “homeowner,” obtaining personal loans and credit cards is much easier for you and an identity thief.

So, how easy is it? Let’s walk through it step by step:

name and
address

These are the basics, and if you own property, your name and address are public record. A quick search of county tax records—easily done online—will give a scammer all of this information in seconds.

date
of birth

Your birth date is surprisingly easy to find. Most people have it on social media so friends can wish them a happy birthday—Facebook, LinkedIn, and even Google searches often give away your month and day. As for the year? It’s just as easy. Search for your high school graduation year on sites like Classmates.com or others, and it’s usually clear when you turned 18. Now they have your year of birth as well.

social security
number (SSN)

This one’s harder but not impossible.
Many companies, including your cable or utility provider, use the last four digits of your SSN for verification—and it’s common for people to share these last four. Which is all that is sometimes needed to access certain accounts. The full number is sometimes found on the dark web, sold or posted by data brokers and shady actors.

mail
theft

Mail theft is another low-tech but effective way thieves get your information. If they get their hands on your mail, especially financial documents, it can be a goldmine for an identity thief. This is even more common with new homeowners as thieves know that your closing documents and other financial paperwork will typically be sent to your new home right after your closing and they wait for it! So keep eye on your mail for the first few weeks after you move in.

fake
IDs

A fake driver’s license or ID is easier to get than most think. These can be ordered online or forged by criminals themselves. With that, they can even get copies of your birth certificate from the state you were born in, with that in hand they can get legitimate documents such as a real drivers license or even a passport. Further solidifying their ability to pose as you. 

The bottom line?

It’s not hard for scammers to gather the info they need to steal your identity, especially if you’re a new homeowner with fresh property records out there.

Why Homeowners Are Prime Targets

Owning a home makes you an especially attractive target for identity thieves. Once scammers have your basic information, they’re not just after your home—they’re after your ability to get credit, too.

  • Mortgage Fraud
    Thieves can use your stolen identity to take out new loans secured by your home’s equity. They cash out and disappear, leaving you with the debt and possibly even facing foreclosure.
  • Title Fraud
    This is when criminals forge documents to transfer your home’s title to themselves or a fake company. With your title in their control, they can sell your home or use it to secure more loans, completely without your knowledge.
  • Easy Credit Access
    Here’s the critical part: now that you’re a homeowner, it’s much easier for scammers to open credit cards, personal loans, and home equity lines of credit (HELOCs) in your name. Lenders see homeownership as a sign of financial stability, making approvals for new credit much easier. Criminals love this because it means bigger loans, bigger credit lines, and bigger payouts—all while you’re left on the hook for the debt.

Here’s a chilling fact:

“Property title fraud is on the rise, with millions of Americans at risk of fraudulent real estate transactions.”
— Source: American Land Title Association

The Numbers Don’t Lie:

Real Risks for Real People.

“Identity theft affects millions annually, with 1 in 15 Americans falling victim to this pervasive cybercrime.”
— Federal Trade Commission

“Credit fraud incidents are increasing, with millions of Americans facing the risk of identity theft and financial fraud.”
— Federal Trade Commission

For homeowners, these numbers are even more concerning because your home and your equity are on the line.

How to Protect Yourself

  • Check your credit reports

    Regularly pull your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com to spot suspicious activity.

  • Sign up for identity theft protection

    Services like LifeLock or Identity Guard can alert you if your info is being misused.

  • Get title monitoring services

    Some companies (like American Identity Group) monitor property records and warn you if someone tries to tamper with your home’s title.

  • Freeze your credit

    A credit freeze – also known as “locking your credit file” stops new accounts from being opened in your name—it’s free and one of the best steps you can take.

  •  Secure personal documents

    Keep mortgage statements, tax records, and sensitive info locked up and never share them unless you’re sure it’s safe.

What to Do if You Suspect Fraud

  • File a police report

  • Contact your mortgage lender

  • Report it to the FTC at IdentityTheft.gov

  • Reach out to your title company or county recorder’s office

The sooner you act, the better chance you have to stop the fraud.

Quick Checklist for Homeowners

  • Check your credit reports every 3-4 months

  • Freeze “Lock” your credit if you’re not using it
  • Set up title monitoring for your home
  • Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication
  • Don’t share sensitive info unless absolutely necessary
  • Keep mortgage and homeownership docs locked up
  • Watch for unexpected bills or credit inquiries
  • Act fast if something doesn’t look right

The House Karma Difference

At House Karma, we know how scary these risks can be, especially for new homeowners with so much at stake. That’s why we don’t just talk about these risks. We act.

  • We recommend every homeowner sign up for identity theft protection.
  • We make it easy by including it FREE with every home warranty program we offer, thanks to our partnership with American Identity Group—industry leaders in identity protection.
  • Our House Karma partners and resources are here to help you understand these threats and take action.