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Get free alerts before you get hit by real estate scams
You have to hear this one. A Minnesota woman recently got a shocking phone call. Her husband had dirty financial laundry: An unpaid loan from years ago. The caller told her they were putting a lien against their home.
The mystery caller then gave the woman a case number and a phone number to call for more details. Her husband was adamant he never took out the loan. Luckily, this woman was smart. She called her county recorder, who said there was nothing on record against their property. It was all a scam, and homeowners across the U.S. are falling victim.
Who’s a target?
Lenders will secure loans with liens that give them a claim to your property if you don’t make payments. But there’s always a paper trail.
Scammers also target homeowners at risk of foreclosure. They’ll reach out with promises to save the day if the homeowner just forks over some cash. They call homeowners and convince them to refinance their homes.
Buying a home? Scammers are out for you, too. They’ll create fake real estate listings and trick you into paying a deposit. They may pose as an escrow company and ask you to wire money.
Sign up for free notification alerts
The best way to protect yourself from property fraud is to be proactive. Some counties offer free alerts via email, voicemail or text when a land document (like a deed) gets recorded with your name on it.
Unfortunately, there isn’t a comprehensive centralized directory to find the service for any county, but you have a few options:
- First, check this website to see if your county has a partnership for free alerts.
- Your county may offer alerts through its own service. Search “[your county name] + county recorder” or “[your county name] + county recorder of deeds” to find your county’s official .gov site. Then, type “property fraud alerts” in the site’s search bar to avoid scam links.
- If you still don’t see anything, your best bet is to call the county recorder directly. They should have a contact number listed on their official site.
Have a friend thinking about buying or selling a home? Don’t let them be a victim. Share this story to keep them safe!
Tags: home, husband, phone, scam, scams, Target
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