Scam Targets Homeowners; I Can Help.

I want to alert you to a scam that has been going on the past few years. At least two companies have been sending out intentionally confusing notices to homeowners asserting that payment is due for a copy of their records.

If you receive a notice from “Local Records Office,” “Secured Document Services,” or anyone other than your County Clerk-Recorder’s Office telling you that a fee is due, know that you do not owe them anything.  These companies are essentially scamming people by offering a completely unnecessary service and implying that it is required by including a due date.

They are targeting people who have recently recorded a new deed to their house (which people do after creating a trust).  If you ever need a copy of your deed you can obtain one from your title company or the County Clerk Recorder, and it will cost a lot less than the $89 these companies are charging.

These companies are active in the bay area, and my clients have received these notices.  If you are unsure of the validity of any notices you receive, like these requesting payment, please feel free to forward the notice to me so I can verify for you whether or not the payment request is legitimate.  We all have better ways to spend our hard earned cash.