The Mitchell County Register of Deeds Office is now offering a free service to county citizens to help them stay informed and take steps to protect their properties.
Property fraud is becoming a nationwide issue. This is where someone illegally acquires or transfers ownership of a property that is not rightfully theirs. Scammers have gotten creative looking for ways to file documents claiming property and attempting to file fraudulent property liens.
The property fraud alert system allows owners to sign up and provide an e-mail address. If a property has something filed in the office, an e-mail alert will go out to anyone registered in the services if documents are filed in the Register of Deeds office. While the system cannot prevent property fraud, this is a chance for owners to be alerted to potential problems so they can take appropriate action.
To register for the service, go to mitchellcountync.gov/departments/register-of-deeds and click tap the Sign Up for Fraud Alerts button and follow the instructions. Something to know: the system tracks by name, and there are some individuals who share the same name. If a registration occurs, anyone who has the same name would receive the notification even if the property involved does not belong to them.
The Register of Deeds does not have the authority to remove any document that has been properly submitted for recording, so the owner would have to seek help in remedying any situation.
For questions, contact the Register of Deeds office at (828) 537-1402 during regular business hours of 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
