Fraud Alert!
Fraud Alert! That phrase is becoming way too familiar!
This post is about an important (and quick!) step you can take to prevent your property from being sold without your knowing it. Yes, that is possible!
Scam artists have become more skilled at selling properties they do not own. We realtors have received extensive training in the past year on how to recognize the fraudsters who call us, asking if we will take a listing on land or a home they claim to own (but do not). I, myself, have received several of these calls and, fortunately, I have been able to determine during the call (or afterwards) that the callers were fraudsters. Unfortunately, there are realtors who have been taken in.
As a homeowner, here are steps you can take to prevent someone from fraudulently listing your home or property for sale.
Prevention Strategies
Sign up for alerts: Register with your local county Register of Deeds for free property fraud notification services.
Check records periodically: Review county land records online to verify your ownership status.
Watch your mail: Look out for missing property tax or utility bills.
Inspect vacant properties: Visit second homes or vacant lots regularly.
Protect personal data: Keep original deeds and sensitive documents locked in a secure place.
Warning Signs of Fraud
Unfamiliar financial or tax notices
Missing expected property tax bills or statements
Unexpected third-party or realtor inquiries regarding a sale
Sudden spikes in utility usage on your vacant properties
How to Respond to a Case of Fraud
Notify authorities: File a report with local law enforcement and the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3).
Alert county offices: Contact your county recorder or Register of Deeds immediately.
Inform financial partners: Contact your mortgage lender and title insurance company.
Consult legal counsel: Hire a real estate attorney to evaluate filing a quiet title action.
The important step you should take immediately:
Register for alerts. Each state and each county will have different steps to register for a Fraud Alert (or, a Fraud Detection) Notification Service on your property, so the specific actions you need to take will depend on your location.
As a resident of Watauga County, NC, here is what I did:
First, I went to Watauga County’s online government website: http://www.Wataugacounty.org (you can also look up the phone number for your county’s Register of Deeds and phone that office).
In my case, I went to the ‘Departments’ tab and chose ‘Register of Deeds’ from the dropdown menu. From there, I selected ‘Fraud Notification System’ on the menu and the form that appeared was very simple to use, with clear instructions. It took perhaps 5 minutes to complete the entire process.
The county emailed my verification that I am now registered to receive Fraud Alerts about my property.