The Hamilton County Recorder’s Office has just rolled out a new program to protect residents from property theft and fraud. The new system, Doxpop Property Watch, notifies property owners with an email to alert them to changes or filings that affect them.
Beaver
“Unfortunately, property and mortgage fraud is real,” said Trini Beaver, the county’s Chief Deputy Recorder. “While this service can’t prevent fraud, it will notify users immediately if something has been recorded in our office so they can assure the validity of the document.”
The Federal Bureau of Investigation counts property fraud, also known as deed fraud or “house-stealing,” as one of the fastest growing white-collar crimes in the United States. Property fraud typically happens when someone forges your identity and transfers your property into their name.
“The scariest thing about property fraud is that it can happen to anyone and they may not even know that it’s happened,” Beaver said. “This type of fraud can go undetected and can cause an array of issues, including the unlawful transfer of ownership of property.”
Doxpop is a free service that provides residents access to all their recorded documents online. Multiple parcels can be registered for those who own several properties throughout the county. To access and enroll in the system, visit doxpop.com under “Other Services” and “Doxpop Property Watch.”