Jefferson County Recorder of Deeds Debbie Dunnegan Waters advises residents that mortgage fraud and identity theft crimes are on the rise, and often victims of these types of fraudulent activities are unaware their homes or identities have been stolen.
She said a common property fraud scenario involves a criminal who files a bogus deed making it appear the actual owner has transferred ownership of a parcel to someone else. The criminal then takes that deed to a bank, fraudulently obtains a mortgage and then disappears with a large amount of money.
While it can happen to anyone, often the victims are seniors, residents of long-term care facilities or absentee property owners.
The county’s Recorder of Deeds is participating in a free online subscription service, Property Fraud Alert, which allows property owners to have their name monitored within the Recorder’s Office to track possible fraudulent recordings for their property.
The service provides an early warning system for property owners to take action.
Those who sign up with the service will be notified by either telephone or email when their name is used in any recording activities within the office.
The service is available at propertyfraudalert.com or by calling 800-728-3858.