Posted by Maryann Quenet on Friday, September 26th, 2025 12:15pm.
Buying, owning, and building equity in your home should feel secure. Yet, across the Greater Toronto Area (GTA), organised criminals have impersonated owners, transferred titles, and even placed fraudulent mortgages on properties—sometimes while owners were overseas or the home sat vacant. Title fraud is rare, but when it hits, it is devastating. The good news: with a few practical habits, vigilant monitoring, and the right protections, you can make yourself a very hard target.
Title fraud occurs when a fraudster steals your identity and uses forged documents to transfer ownership of your property, or to register a mortgage against it, without your knowledge or consent. In Ontario, schemes typically rely on identity theft, counterfeit IDs, and a complicit or duped professional to push documents through.
While every case looks a bit different, common patterns include:
Impersonation and transfer: Criminals pose as the owner, transfer title to themselves or a “straw buyer,” then sell the home.
Impersonation and refinance: Criminals register a fraudulent mortgage against the home, extract funds, then disappear. This is more common than many realise.
Why does this work? Fraud thrives on identity theft, rushed processes, and gaps in verification. Understanding those weak points is the first step to protecting yourself.
Certain situations increase exposure:
Vacant, tenanted, or investment properties, especially condos or houses left empty while owners travel or work abroad.
Elderly owners who are targeted with high-pressure home-renovation scams tied to predatory mortgages.
Owners with publicly available personal information that can be used to assemble fake IDs.
Title insurance is a one-time premium that protects against title fraud, unknown liens, registration errors, and other title defects. Most lenders require it for mortgages, and owner policies can cover your legal costs to restore title, as well as certain losses tied to fraud. Coverage lasts as long as you own the property.
Not all policies are identical. Review your policy or speak with your lawyer about:
Fraud coverage (sale and refinance scenarios)
Legal expenses to defend and restore your title
Exclusions and limits, including what is, and is not, covered (for instance, coverage for unpermitted work has limits).
You can check the current status of your title—owner of record, active mortgages, liens—through OnLand, Ontario’s official online portal for land registry documents. Ordering a Parcel Register (title abstract) for your property is a fast way to confirm nothing unexpected is registered.
Search by address or map, then order the Parcel Register to see ownership and encumbrances.
If something looks off, act immediately (see the “If You Suspect Fraud” section below). Do not call numbers listed on suspicious registrations—go to your lawyer and the authorities.
Pro tip: Put a calendar reminder to pull a Parcel Register once or twice a year, or any time you’ll be away for an extended period.
Most title fraud begins with identity theft. Reduce the attack surface:
Protect personal documents and shred old records; never leave mail piling up while travelling.
Use strong, unique passwords and multi-factor authentication for email and banking; criminals often need access to your inbox to intercept verification.
Be cautious with Powers of Attorney and who can act on your behalf—always consult your lawyer.
Place alerts on your credit files (Equifax/TransUnion) if you suspect compromise, which can slow down attempts to open accounts or loans in your name.
Fraudsters favour properties that appear unmonitored.
If the home is vacant or you’re abroad, arrange for visible activity: timed lights, mail pickup, and a neighbour to keep watch. Consider cameras and signage. Cases in Toronto have involved owners away on business while criminals staged the home for sale.
For investment properties, instruct your property manager to verify any unexpected access requests, and to notify you if strangers attempt viewings or valuations.
Whether you are buying, selling, or refinancing, use licensed real estate and mortgage professionals and a reputable real estate lawyer. Professionals are trained to spot red flags in IDs, signatures, and funds flow. Mortgage-broker oversight bodies also publish guidance to detect and prevent fraud.
Unfamiliar mortgage statements or mail suggesting a new loan you did not authorise.
Strangers contacting you about buying or renting “your” home when you have not listed it.
Requests to sign documents urgently without your lawyer reviewing them.
Title search surprises—a new charge or transfer on your Parcel Register.
If it feels off, pause the transaction and seek legal advice.
Time matters. Here is the order most Ontario authorities recommend:
Call your real estate lawyer and your title insurance company (if you have a policy). They will advise on urgent legal steps to freeze or unwind the fraud.
File a police report with your local service (e.g., Toronto Police Service) and obtain a report number. Keep all communications logged.
Contact the Ontario land registry (via ServiceOntario/OnLand) to flag the title, and follow their instructions for victims of real estate fraud.
Notify your financial institutions and place fraud alerts with Equifax and TransUnion.
Report to the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre (CAFC). This helps investigations and intelligence sharing.
Ontario’s land registration system also provides information on compensation for victims in certain circumstances (e.g., Land Titles Assurance Fund), but your first line of defence—and often your quickest remedy—is a robust owner’s title insurance policy. Consult your lawyer to see what applies to your situation.
Title fraud is unsettling, but it is not unstoppable. By combining an owner’s title insurance policy, sensible identity protection, and routine checks of your Parcel Register, you can dramatically reduce your risk—and respond quickly if something looks wrong. If you want a second set of eyes on your situation, or you are preparing to buy or sell and want a team that builds protection into every step, The Johnson Team is here to help.
If you are ready to start house hunting, or you want seasoned representation to sell for the best terms, contact The Johnson Team today to start working with an agent right away—we would be honoured to help you move forward with confidence.