In the late 1990s, Matthew Cox, then a 29-year-old new hire at a mortgage brokerage in Tampa, Florida, embarked on a journey that would eventually lead to one of the most notorious mortgage fraud schemes in U.S. history. His first fraudulent act was seemingly minor—altering a loan application to erase a borrower’s late payment history. However, this initial indiscretion soon spiraled into a complex web of illegal activities, resulting in a staggering $55 million in fraudulent gains.

Cox’s fraudulent tactics evolved rapidly. What began as tweaking loan applications for clients quickly morphed into an intricate operation involving stolen and fabricated identities, phony appraisals, and home title theft. His schemes became so elaborate that he landed on the Secret Service’s Most Wanted List and even featured on a “Dateline” episode detailing his crimes. However, his criminal empire came crashing down in 2007 when he was arrested, pleaded guilty, and was sentenced to prison.

While incarcerated, Cox found a way to atone for his crimes by assisting the government in training mortgage brokers and loan officers to identify potential fraud. After serving nearly 13 years of a 26-year sentence, he was released in 2019. Today, Cox channels his experience into more constructive endeavors. He hosts a true-crime podcast called “Inside True Crime” and works as a paid spokesperson for Home Title Lock, a company that specializes in monitoring property titles for fraudulent activity and helping homeowners respond when fraud is detected.

In a recent interview with Realtor.com, Cox expressed regret for the turmoil his actions caused, particularly the impact on innocent homeowners who were unwittingly ensnared in his fraudulent schemes. “It’s something that deeply bothers me,” said Cox, now 54.

One of the more striking examples of his past crimes involved the identity theft of his landlord while he was evading law enforcement in the Atlanta suburbs. Cox used the landlord’s stolen identity to file forged documents, falsely claiming that the mortgage on the property had been satisfied. He then secured three new loans against the property, totaling $329,000, and maxed out credit cards under the stolen identity before disappearing.

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“Let’s be honest, if a big bank like Countrywide lost $2 million, I wouldn’t lose a wink of sleep,” Cox admitted. “But my landlord, who didn’t deserve any of what happened to him, was left to deal with the mess I created. His only mistake was having the misfortune of crossing my path.”

Fortunately, Cox noted that his former landlord was not held responsible for the fraudulent loans, though it likely resulted in two months of sleepless nights and significant legal expenses. “I can only imagine the anxiety he experienced,” Cox reflected, “and he was just one of many people affected by my actions.”

From Art School to Fraud Mastermind

Cox’s path to infamy began in Florida, where he grew up and later attended the University of South Florida, earning a degree in fine arts with a focus on sculpture. Despite his artistic aspirations, he struggled to find success in various entry-level jobs. Eventually, he found work at a Tampa mortgage brokerage, which catered to prospective homebuyers with subprime credit scores.

At the brokerage, Cox’s responsibilities included preparing loan applications and matching clients with loans for which they were eligible. He earned fees for his work and sometimes took additional points on loans by charging borrowers a higher interest rate than necessary—a practice known as “yield spread premium,” which has since been banned.

Cox quickly discovered that manipulating loan applications could significantly boost his income. He began forging documents, such as employment records and bank statements, to ensure his clients’ loans were approved. Over time, he created entire fictional identities, complete with fake companies and banks to support his fraudulent activities.

“My background in fine arts definitely played a role,” Cox explained. “It helped me craft the illusions needed to make these fabricated identities and fake documents appear legitimate, enabling me to secure loans from banks.”

Despite a conviction for minor mortgage fraud in 2002, which resulted in probation, Cox’s schemes only grew more audacious. Instead of turning his life around, he doubled down on his criminal activities, engaging in even larger and more complex frauds involving identity theft, title theft, and bank fraud.

A Life of Crime and Repentance

Cox’s fraudulent activities came to a head in 2004 when he went on the run after coming under investigation once again for mortgage fraud in Tampa. His spree continued across Georgia, Alabama, and South Carolina until his arrest in Nashville, Tennessee, in late 2006. Facing a potential prison sentence of over 400 years, Cox negotiated a plea deal, which reduced his sentence to 26 years. Due to his cooperation in another case and his assistance in creating fraud training materials for the federal government, his sentence was further reduced, leading to his release in 2019 after serving nearly 13 years.

Since his release, Cox has worked to reform himself and has become an advocate against the very crimes he once committed. He now promotes Home Title Lock, a service designed to protect homeowners from deed fraud—a type of scam he once perpetrated.

“This might sound like a sales pitch, but I genuinely believe in having your title monitored,” Cox said when asked about how homeowners can protect themselves. “Home Title Lock can help you alert authorities and hire a real estate attorney to correct any fraudulent transfers.”

Home Title Lock charges $20 per month to monitor property titles for any suspicious activity and covers the legal fees associated with addressing fraudulent transfers. However, some U.S. counties and cities offer free title monitoring services, and certain types of title insurance—requiring only a one-time fee—also cover the legal aspects of responding to title fraud.

Home Title Lock, which is heavily marketed to seniors, has faced scrutiny in various states, including Texas. In January 2023, the Texas Attorney General’s office launched a civil investigation into the company for potentially misleading consumers.

“If Home Title Lock is misrepresenting its services or their necessity, I will take action to stop any unlawful behavior,” Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton stated at the time. It remains unclear whether the investigation is ongoing, as Paxton’s office did not respond to requests for comment.

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On the other hand, David Fleck, a real estate fraud attorney, commended Home Title Lock for raising awareness about home title theft more effectively than any government-issued public service announcement. “Every property owner in the United States needs to understand how easy it is to file fraudulent deeds,” Fleck wrote in an email. “As someone who has battled this crime since 2003, I can say that homeowners owe a debt of gratitude to Home Title Lock’s founder, Harish Chopra.”

Fleck, who founded Veritable Data Solutions, another deed fraud prevention service, advocates for mandatory title monitoring, especially for elderly relatives with in-home caregivers. “While most caregivers are trustworthy, there are always a few bad actors. A title monitoring service, whether provided by the county or Home Title Lock, can offer peace of mind regarding your elderly relative’s property—essentially your future inheritance,” Fleck explained.

Cox himself acknowledges that while title monitoring can alert homeowners to fraudulent activity, it cannot prevent scammers from filing fake deeds. “Unlike credit, which you can lock down to prevent unauthorized access, titles cannot be secured in the same way,” Cox pointed out. “As long as the forged document looks correct, is notarized, and has all the necessary signatures, it has to be recorded. There’s no way to stop it.”

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