San Diego County has a Real Estate Fraud notification service for homeowners in San Diego County. It’s free, plus it’s easy to subscribe. The service can protect their home(s) and property titles from fraudulent theft which is increasingly common.
The service is provided by the San Diego County Assessor/Recorder/County Clerk’s office.
Homeowners may sign up with as many as 10 names, such as personal, business, or trust. You can also select up to 10 APNs (Assessor’s Parcel Numbers) per registered email address. Once registered you will receive an email alert if a document is recorded that matches your name(s) or APNs. Possible documents include a lien placed on the property or a fraudulent title.
The SDARCC monitoring happens 24/7. I called SDARCC and was told the email should arrive within 24 to 48 hours after a recording occurs.
According to the SCARCC website the email will provide the recorded document number. There will also be a link to view the document index information.
When I spoke to the SDARCC they recommended anyone receiving an email alert get in touch with the San Diego County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit promptly. The DA’s Office can investigate and help resolve the issue in many cases. However, not all real estate fraud is appropriate for the DA’s office to investigate and prosecute (see their website). They can refer you to the appropriate agency for assistance if needed.
Here is some more information about this free real estate fraud alert service and how it works.
Signing up for the service is easy online at the SDARCC website.
For more information and questions, you can call SDARCC at (619) 258-8158.