Fraud

Sign Up for the Pinal County Recording Notification Service

"The Pinal County Recording Notification System is a free online service that alerts subscribers when a document is recorded with the Pinal County Recorder’s Office. Users who sign up for the service will receive an email notification when a document is recorded using a name that they are monitoring. A user can list up to 5 name variations."

See the website for more information.

Deed Fraud: How Criminals Use Deed Fraud to Steal Your Entire Home

Stealing a wallet, a cellphone, a car — these are threats we all understand. A thief grabs and flees. But in a rising form of fraud known as deed theft, criminals have found a way to steal no less than your home and land.

Though it is still a relatively uncommon scam, deed-theft cases are popping up across the country. There are two typical variations:

• In the first type, thieves forge a deed that transfers ownership of a property to them. They file the deed with a county clerk, who records the sale. Then the property is quickly sold to an unsuspecting purchaser.
• In the second type, crooks deceive a homeowner, convincing them to sign a deed to transfer ownership, often by promising help refinancing a mortgage or paying overdue property taxes.

To better understand this form of fraud, check out this AARP Article: Deed Fraud: How Criminals Could Try to Steal Your Home​​ (aarp.org)

What to Do if Your Wallet is Lost or Stolen

7 steps to prevent identity theft and money loss — plus how to replace what’s missing.

You reach for your wallet to settle up a bill and find … nothing. Panic sets in as you frantically pat down your pockets or fumble around the contents of your purse. It’s gone. Losing whatever cash you may have on hand is bad enough, but the other contents in your wallet can be a treasure trove for criminals, who can go on to perpetrate credit card fraud and identity theft.

The silver lining: Act fast and you can minimize much of the potential damage. Here’s where to start.

An AARP article from June 20th, 2023 by Barbara Stepko . . .

Title Theft Protection

Are you afraid of having your property title stolen? Here's a no cost solution to help protect your title without signing up for a commercial service.

Did you know that you can register for a notification service from your local county recorder's office if someone tries to register a transaction using your name? The service that you are requesting is a Consumer Notification Service.

The Pinal County Recording Notification System is a free online service that alerts subscribers when a document is recorded with the Pinal County Recorder’s Office. Users who sign up for the service will receive an email notification when a document is recorded using a name that they are monitoring. A user can list up to 5 name variations.

The link below is for the Pinal County Recorder's Office. A similar service is provided by the Maricopa County Recorder's Office. See the Notes Section for the Maricopa County link.