Scammers have long preyed on the vulnerable, and their tactics continue to evolve—but property fraud has seen a troubling rise. St. Charles County Recorder of Deeds Mary Dempsey recently held a news conference to highlight this trend and urge homeowners to take proactive steps to protect their assets. According to a news release from St. Charles County, Dempsey stated, “I’m aware of one case in St. Charles County where a family member tried to fraudulently transfer a property in the owner’s name.”
Dempsey, together with her counterparts from St. Louis, Franklin, and Lincoln Counties, highlighted the importance of signing up for a fraud alert system. This service, which is at no cost to the user, offers a degree of security, informing property owners whenever their name appears on documents submitted for registration. Following the conference, Dempsey reported that more than a thousand people in St. Charles County alone hastened to sign up for this protective measure.
Instances of property fraud have not been limited to attempts by individuals to deceive family members; even municipal holdings are at risk. Back in March, St. Louis County charged two individuals with the attempted theft of property owned by the City of Dellwood, forging documents to lay false claim to their target. Such incidents underscore the need for vigilance and citizen education on potential risks.
The recorders' initiative is a preventive step, hoping to keep property owners one step ahead of the fraudsters. Already, some 28,000 people in St. Charles County have registered for the service, which has issued over 5,000 fraud alerts since January. It's worth noting that not all alerts directly indicate an actual fraud attempt; they serve rather to notify property owners to verify any recording of documents aligned with their names. In a proactive move to further enhance the integrity of property documentation, St. Charles County will soon enable notaries to sign up for alerts that will notify them if someone appears to be unlawfully employing their signature.
For prospective property buyers, the American Land Title Association has identified several warning signs to watch out for. These include unoccupied properties with no mortgages or liens, suspiciously below-market prices, and sellers who demand cash or wire transfers. They also warn against sellers who are unwilling or unable to meet in person or who insist on using their own notary.
