The Duval County Clerk of Courts is offering a new Property Fraud Alert system to help people maintain the security of their property.
The free service allows participants to monitor their personal or business name and be notified when a document is recorded in Duval County under that name.
The clerk’s office is required by law to record all documents that meet the requirements outlined in Florida statutes. If a document is properly executed and presented with payment, it is the legal duty of the clerk to record the document.
Scammers file fake deeds, making it appear as if they own homes that are not theirs. The criminals then trick people into giving them money to rent or buy those homes.
“This new Property Fraud Alert is a game changer,” Duval County Clerk of Courts Jody Phillips said in a news release.
“By giving individuals and businesses the ability to proactively monitor recorded documents, this will be a valuable tool to stop property fraud in Duval County in its tracks. The Clerk’s Office is honored to be able to offer this service at no cost to members of our community so that they can feel secure in their ownership of their homes and businesses.”
When a document is recorded that matches the registered monitoring criteria, users will receive an alert within 48 hours so they can review the document to make sure it is legitimate.
Visit duvalclerk.com/propertyfraud to enroll in the service.
Duval County property owners who suspect they may be a victim of document fraud may contact the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500.