Friday, September 27, 2024
The Coryell County Clerk’s Office recently implemented a program, which will help with the ever-growing property fraud that is sweeping across the nation.
This is a free service provided by the Coryell County Clerk, Jennifer Newton, through EDOC Technologies Inc., with the goal of reducing fraudulently recorded documents that could affect property ownership. To sign up for this service, property owners will need to visit the county website at coryellcountyclerk.com and click on “Property Fraud.”
“We did this so that property owners could go in and sign up with their name, address, phone number, or email address, and then if anyone files a document in your name, it will send you a text or email letting you know. It really gives you an advantage if someone files [fraudulent documents],” Newton said.
When signing up, it is important to ensure that your contact information is accurate and current. If your name, cell phone number, or email address changes, please register again.
Regarding property fraud, Newton said, “It’s only happened once here, but it’s becoming a huge problem. Dallas has been hit hard and Travis County. There was a man in Dallas that did this seven times before they caught him – he would transfer titles into his name, do an online notary, file it into the records, sell the home, went through closing and everything. When the buyers took possession (of the home) they found out it wasn’t valid. Then it turns into a court battle to get the property re-established to the original owner.”
Now, Coryell County property owners can go online, sign up, and be notified if anyone tries to file anything in their name. “A lot of people are signing up using both their email address and cell phone. I recommend using both,” Newton said.
“I knew property fraud was out there, but I didn’t realize until recently just how bad it has become,” she said.
