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Palm Beach County Clerk warns Boca Raton residents about rising deed‑fraud and other scams
Summary
Mike Caruso, Palm Beach County Clerk and Comptroller, warned Boca Raton residents about sophisticated scams — including traffic ticket, jury duty and property deed fraud — and urged homeowners to register property at mypalmbeachclerk.com/pfa to receive alerts if someone records activity on their deed.
Mike Caruso, Palm Beach County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller, told the Boca Raton City Council on Jan. 6 that scams have grown more sophisticated and are targeting county residents.
Caruso outlined three scams of note: callers exploiting public traffic citation records to pressure payments; jury duty scams that falsely claim outstanding warrants; and escalating property deed fraud in which criminals record fraudulent transfers to steal homes. He cited Palm Beach County data showing a rise in deed‑fraud cases — "2 years ago there were 4 cases... a year ago there were 32 cases... last year ... there was 184 cases" — and said the current fiscal year has already exceeded last year's totals.
Caruso recommended residents register for the county's property fraud alert at mypalmbeachclerk.com/pfa so the clerk's office can email owners or their representatives when a document is recorded against a property. "When in doubt, don't give your info out," Caruso said, summarizing his cautionary advice.
The mayor thanked Caruso and council members asked staff follow‑up questions about outreach and registration time for residents.
Why it matters: Property deed fraud can lead to loss of title and protracted legal battles; immediate registration with the clerk's alert service can provide homeowners with early notice to respond.
