Property scam warning for Montgomery County

July 10, 2023 31

HILLSBORO — Montgomery County property owners should disregard a scam letter from companies advising them to get a “property profile.”

Letters that property owners have received from companies advise them to buy a copy of the deed to their property. In addition, they would get a so-called “property profile”. The cost range is between $87 and $95.

Montgomery County Clerk Sandy Leitheiser has been receiving reports from constituents about these letters. However, it is not the first time that this consumer scam has made the rounds in the county.

The letter may seem official due to the inclusion of public information. Leitheiser passes along a warning to not pay for this unnecessary service.

“If you have the original recorded deed to your property, you don’t need another copy,” said Leitheiser.

Leitheiser also notes that a copy (or a certified copy) of the deed is available at her office at a low, reasonable cost of $4. She adds that this information is also available via the county’s GIS map site or at landrecords.net.

Leitheiser’s office has copies of all land deeds in Montgomery County dating back to 1822.

She notes that the elderly are particular targets of this scam, as the letter scares them into paying for unnecessary services.

In addition, there is a free Property Alert service to deter fraud which can submit text, email or voicemail communications to landowners. This service allows landowners to track when land recording activity takes place. In addition to online, landowners can opt into this free service via her office.

Land and property owners with questions about land records can contact Leitheiser or her office’s Recording Department at (217) 532-9535.

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.