By Staff Report
The Patrick County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office is encouraging property owners to sign up for a free service that alerts them when documents are filed in local land records under their name or property identification number.
The program, called VADeed Alert, is a voluntary notification system created by the Virginia Office of the Executive Secretary to help property owners monitor potential deed fraud.
Once enrolled, users receive an email notification when a document is recorded that matches their name, business name or Tax Map/Parcel ID number. The alerts allow property owners to review filings and check for possible unauthorized activity, such as deed transfers.
“Deed fraud is a growing concern nationwide,” Circuit Court Clerk Morgan Boothe said. “VADeed Alert gives property owners a simple way to stay informed and take action if something doesn’t look right. We’re so excited this program is ready to launch.”
Boothe noted the findings of a Deed Fraud Study Final Report, prepared by Virginia Center for Housing Research, Virginia Tech, Center for Regional Analysis, George Mason University and HousingForward Virginia.
The report, prepared in response to Senate Bill 1270 and House Bill 2396 and presented to legislators, states in part, that deed fraud “increasingly affects landowners and buyers across the commonwealth.”
Primary targets are unencumbered, vacant properties. Fraudsters use information available on the internet and digital tools to forge signatures and impersonate property owners, often advertising rushed, cash-only sales, according to the report.
“Fraudulent sellers may bypass typical third parties in the transaction process, such as real estate agents and mortgage lenders, leaving victimized buyers especially at risk without this professional oversight,” according to the report.
“At the root, deed fraud occurs when a fraudulent seller’s identity is not accurately verified during the real estate transaction process,” it added.
Deed fraud, which can also be called title fraud, title theft, and seller impersonation fraud, occurs “when a property title is fraudulently transferred by a bad actor impersonating the rightful property owner or otherwise fraudulently listing the property for sale. Deed fraud occurs all over the United States,” the report stated.
While the VADeed Alert service does not prevent documents from being recorded and does not verify the legality of filings, it serves as an additional layer of awareness, enabling property owners to review activity related to their property and contact the clerk’s office or seek legal advice if needed.
The program is free and available to property owners across Virginia.
Enrollment can be completed online in a few minutes. Residents can register at https://risweb.vacourts.gov/VADeedAlert/#/login
For more information, residents can contact the Patrick County Circuit Court Clerk’s Office at (276) 694-7213.
