Register of Deeds warns of scam
By Staff Reports
Published in News on January 5, 2013 10:40 PM
Wayne County Register of Deeds Lois Mooring is warning residents of a scam that tries to get people to fork out money for something they can get for free.
In a news release, she said that she has become aware of some residents in the county receiving a "Deed Processing Notice" from Secured Document Services of Washington, D. C. The notice asks that people pay $83 to obtain a copy of the deed to their home. It looks like an official notice and contains public information about their property. The notice instructs the property owner to respond by a certain date.
However, deeds are available for free on the Register of Deeds website, accessible through www.waynegov.com. A certified hard copy also can be obtained either in person or through the mail for a fee of $5 for the first page and $2 each additional page, or 25 cents per page for a standard copy.
"I would like the citizens of Wayne County to know that this is not a notice from Wayne County Register of Deeds Office," Mrs. Mooring said in the release. "The Register of Deeds Office is the only place where the public can obtain a certified copy of official records of conveyance for the county. Property owners should be aware that these solicitations come from a third party that is in no way associated with a government agency."