Alert! Real Estate Solicitation
Deed solicitations have resurfaced in recent weeks in St. Charles County and St. Louis County, Missouri. Real estate owners are again receiving “RECORDED DEED NOTICE” mailings from several companies. Recent mailings are from “Records Recovery Services” in Missouri and “Property Site” in California. Several of our clients have received these advertisements after transferring real estate to their Revocable Living Trust or a business entity.
The mailings look official and may easily be mistaken as a county bill. The notice includes data obtained through public record including transaction dates, land value identification, property identification and the legal property address. The solicitation is seeking the homeowner pay a certain fee (i.e. $91.00 or $98.00) to obtain a “Property Assessment Profile” or a “Property Report”.
Such a profile or report is unnecessary and real property data is available from the County. Moreover, all our clients receive directly from our office the original real estate deed we prepared after recording. Copies of deeds and certified deeds can also be obtained directly from the County Recorder for a few dollars.
The advertisement letter requesting payment has disclaimers, sometimes in fine print, stating “This is not a bill.” and “This is a solicitation.”. The mailing also states information that the product or service “has not been approved or endorsed by any governmental agency, and this offer is not being made by an agency of the government.”
Likely targets of these solicitations are homeowners who recently engaged in a real estate transaction (by way of purchase, or transfer to a Revocable Trust for estate planning purposes, to a business entity, or to a former spouse pursuant to a divorce). Scammers obtain data from the recorded deeds and mortgages available in public land records.
A reminder to read all notices and bills you receive and ask questions so you do not fall victim to a scam. If you have questions about this notice, please contact our office at (636) 724-3355, or your local County Recorder.
FURTHER PROTECT AGAINST FRAUD
According to the FBI, one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes is property and mortgage fraud. As a response to curb the increase in property fraud crimes, many counties throughout the country offer real estate owners a “Property Fraud Alert” program. Some counties offer the service free of charge while others have elected to charge a small fee. Nearby County Recorders offering the service free of charge include: St. Charles County, St. Louis City, St. Louis County Recorder of Deeds and Jefferson County.
Property Fraud Alert allows real estate owners (individuals, trusts, businesses and other entities) to sign up to be notified when their name is cited on any documents recorded with the respective county recorder’s office. After signing up, a real estate owner is monitored through the county’s electronic recording system and immediately notified when any document is recorded in their registered name. The program does not prevent fraud from happening. However, the program provides an early warning to real estate owners to take appropriate action if possible fraudulent activity has occurred.
Sign up is quick and easy. Visit Property Fraud Alert, select your county and simply enter your individual/trust/business/entity name and you will be notified when a document with the registered name is recorded.
Or, sign up through your respective county Property Fraud Alert site. Local County Recorder links are listed below.
*Do note, real estate owners must separately register for Property Fraud Alert in every county in which they own property.
Diligently protect yourself and your valuable assets. Contact our office today at (636) 724-3355 to discuss land related questions with a St. Charles, MO attorney.