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Register of Deeds outlines free property-fraud alert service as deed-fraud reports rise
Summary
Cumberland County Register of Deeds described how deed fraud works, encouraged property owners to monitor online records and to sign up for the county's free property-fraud email alerts; staff noted a state commission is developing recommendations and a report due in December.
Jessica Spalding, Register of Deeds, briefed the commissioners and public on deed-fraud scams and the office's free property-fraud alert service.
Spalding described deed fraud as a scheme in which criminals try to transfer ownership of vacant land or properties with minimal lien interests; once recorded the civil process to restore title can be lengthy and expensive for homeowners. She said the county's online land records are updated rapidly and that residents should periodically search their names in the online system. Cumberland County offers a free email alert: residents who sign up receive an email if a document is recorded in their name.
Spalding and commissioners encouraged residents who own out-of-area property to watch for missing property tax bills (a common way fraud is detected) and to report suspected fraud to the FBI's Internet Crimes Complaint Center. She said Maine recently created a deed-fraud commission and that registers of deeds are participating in developing recommendations; a report from that commission was expected in December.
