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Public commenter urges Susquehanna County to publicize property-record notification to deter scams
Summary
A resident told commissioners the county already participates in a notification program that could alert property owners when records in their name are filed and urged officials to publicize it to protect rural and elderly homeowners from title and rental scams.
A public commenter urged the Susquehanna County Board of Commissioners on May 21 to promote a property-record notification program intended to alert homeowners when documents are filed in their names.
The commenter said they learned about the program from the Potter County recorder and warned that “they're apparently… people signing up and taking somebody's home,” describing scammers targeting rural Pennsylvania and elderly or second-home owners. The commenter asked the board to work with the recorder’s office to make the program more visible in Susquehanna County and suggested the county notify residents through tax bills or local messaging.
Chair (the meeting’s presiding official) and other commissioners confirmed the county participates in a notification system administered through the recorder’s office but said public awareness is low. The chair noted the program’s effectiveness is limited to documents filed in the county recorder’s office and will not catch filings made in other jurisdictions or states. The chair also warned that Pennsylvania requires original signatures on recorded documents, which reduces but does not eliminate the risk of forged filings.
Commissioners encouraged the commenter to speak directly with the recorder (referred to in the discussion as “Wendy”) to obtain details about enrollment and to help get the information published locally. The board did not take formal action beyond agreeing to look into public messaging and closed the public comment period after the request.
The transcript records the concern about vacant land being listed and third parties offering rentals of properties they do not own; commissioners described these as known scam patterns and emphasized outreach and education as the immediate tools available to protect residents.
