There have been many stories about home foreclosures in the news lately. We do not have a sub-prime mortgage or have any risk in losing our home. Still, I sometimes receive information regarding protection from this crisis. Should I be concerned?
Dear Concerned Kansan:
The foreclosure crisis hitting the nation is very real and should cause great concern. While it sounds like you are safe from losing your home, you need to be aware of a variety of other scams.
Unfortunately for Kansans, predators and scammers are using the home foreclosure crisis to take advantage of consumers.
In the Attorney General’s Office, our Division of Consumer Protection receives complaints of scams going on around the state. Our office just began getting complaints about a new scam relating to the deeds of homes.
A company has reportedly been sending out letters in Shawnee County and other counties. In short, the letter recommends that each homeowner have a certified copy of the deed to their home to keep with their important papers. It even quotes the U.S. Government Federal Citizens Information Center to make it sound official.
The homeowner is encouraged to fill out the bottom portion of the letter to order a Certified Copy of their home’s deed for a fee of $69.50. This is a completely unnecessary service. If you received such a letter, report it to our office immediately.
It is not necessary to have the original or certified copy of your deed in your possession. You can, however, receive a copy of your deed for very little expense. The Shawnee County Register of Deeds will provide you with one for approximately $2.50. The entire process takes just a few minutes. To view your deed in Shawnee County is free; copying the deed will cost $1.50 per page, and official certification costs an extra $1.00.
Please be careful when reading notices and/or offers regarding your home or any of your possessions. There are too many predators willing to exploit tragedy for their own benefit.
To contact the Kansas Register of Deeds offices , visit www.ksrods.org, the official site for the Kansas Register of Deeds Association. For more information about this or other consumer protection issues, please visit www.ksag.org or call toll-free to the Kansas Attorney General’s Office of Consumer Protection at (800) 432-2310.