St. Johns County homeowners are getting a fresh lesson in property fraud prevention, thanks to a collaboration between the county’s clerk’s office and some George Washington University students. In a move to educate residents on property fraud, a dreaded and surging white-collar crime, the St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s Office unveiled a student-produced public service announcement (PSA).
As stated in the initiative by the office, George Washington University students, under the tutelage of their final communications project, have produced a PSA that will be broadcasted on local TV and disseminated via social media. With the guiding hand of Clerk Brandon J. Patty himself a proud George Washington University alum, the students crafted a campaign to ring the alarm on the increase of property fraud. "The opportunity to support these students while also spreading awareness about a critical issue was a win-win," Patty told St. Johns County Clerk of the Circuit Court and County Comptroller's Office. "The final PSA is even more beneficial to help inform St. Johns County homeowners."
FBI statistics suggest property fraud is a concerning form of white-collar crime, which occurs when someone illegitimately records a fraudulent deed, mortgage, or lien against a property. The Clerk's Office in its dedication to combat this crime, during National Homeownership Month, is providing educational material and resources. One significant tool in their arsenal is the free Recording Activity Notification Service that notifies homeowners of any filings made under their name in the Official Records— a service that has seen a notable increase in registrations since its inception.
The St. Johns County Clerk’s Office announced that from when the alert system launched in 2018, nearly 30,000 residents have signed up, including 2,365 new users this year alone.
