Leitheiser reminds landowners of fraud alert service

HILLSBORO — Recent instances of property fraud are prompting Montgomery Clerk Sandy Leitheiser to take action.

Leitheiser is reminding landowners of a free service from her office. This service notifies those who register via phone or email if there’s a land document registration within the county in their name.

She referenced a story from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, where a St. Louis woman would enter a plea agreement earlier this month. In summary, the offense was for using a quit-claim deed. Documents involved the forgery of a deceased woman’s signature to obtain ownership of a house. It would contain a signature and seal of a notary public who never saw or signed off on them.

As a result, the perpetrator, Mercedes Primus, would receive indictment on two counts of identity theft.

“According to the FBI, property and mortgage fraud is the fastest-growing white-collar crime,” Leitheiser stated. “And there are several costly “title lock” services available to warn landowners about potential fraud. However, we offer a similar warning system for free.”

Leitheiser: Service is available in 47 counties

Leitheiser said her office voluntarily joined 46 other Illinois counties to offer a free property fraud alert service to help customers. The service is a tool to deter someone from attempting illegal use of properties for financial gain by recording fraudulent documents.

Currently, she reports that 448 Montgomery County property owners are using the service. Moreover, they are among 110,572 Illinois residents utilizing the service to date.

Leitheiser additionally encourages land records customers to register for the service. If a document is fraudulently recorded in their name, they can contact the Recorder’s office and law enforcement authorities.

How Montgomery County landowners can sign up

Registration for this free service can be done through the servicer’s website. Registration via a paper form can also be done at the Recorder’s office.

While Property Fraud Alert doesn’t prevent fraud from happening, it does provide an early warning system to take action.

Those with questions regarding Property Fraud Alert may call (800) 728-3858. Additionally, they can contact the Montgomery County Recorder’s office at (217) 532-9535.

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