GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. — Property owners in Kent County have a new way to protect themselves and their land against property fraud.
The "Fraud Notify" system is a free service that alerts subscribers with an email whenever a document with their name, or any other name they've designated, is recorded at the Kent County Register of Deeds Office.
Once an email is received, property owners can determine if it's fraudulent and notify law enforcement if needed.
“Unfortunately, there is no tool that will prevent property fraud completely, but 'Fraud Notify' will help equip Kent County property owners with information they need in order to be aware if a theft has occurred, to respond quickly, and to seek justice,” said Kent County Register of Deeds Lisa Posthumus Lyons.
According to the Kent County Register of Deeds Office, property theft is a quickly growing threat across the United States.
Property fraud occurs when someone records a fraudulent document at the county land records office, making it look like they own property that's not theirs.
Often, this takes place without the true owner of the property even knowing and the land is then sold by the fraudulent owner.
When the true owner then goes to complete a real estate transaction on their property, they end up facing major financial and legal problems.
Property owners interested in subscribing to Kent County’s "Fraud Notify" system to protect their property can do so here.
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