Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Fraud Alert topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Register Brooks highlights fraud-alert mobile app and outreach to protect seniors
Summary
Register Willie Brooks Jr. said the office's fraud-alert program and mobile app enrolled about 30,000 property owners over two years and described plans to boost outreach to seniors and community groups to reduce identity-fraud risks.
Shelby County Register of Deeds Willie Brooks Jr. described a fraud-alert program and mobile app that notifies property owners when a transaction involving their property appears in county records. "Initially, when we came into the this position, we had roughly 7,000 citizens in the following program. Today, we can say we got 30,000 over the last 2 years," Brooks said.
Brooks said the app and follow-up process send notifications (electronically or by mail) and that the office can provide support to owners who receive alerts and take action. Commissioners urged expanded outreach to seniors and at-risk residents through trustee mailings, churches, community centers and partnerships; Brooks said the office is increasing marketing and would ask the county trustee to consider including fraud-alert information in routine tax mailings.
Brooks noted seniors are particularly vulnerable to paid-for services that duplicate free public records work and said the fraud-alert program aims to provide timely visibility to property owners and reduce that vulnerability.
