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Community Corner

Norfolk County Registry of Deeds Issues Warning Against Recent Deed Scam Targeting New Home Buyers

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell is warning Norfolk County residents about a different version of a deed scam solicitation being made to consumers. This increasingly reported version of the deed scam seems to be targeting new home buyers, as well as others involved in real estate transactions around Norfolk County.

Norfolk County residents who recently purchased property should be cautious about a solicitation being sent from an outfit called Registered Property Services located in Sioux Fall South Dakota. This official looking correspondence appears to be a bill and even includes specific property information.

“It is important that new home buyers realize that this is not a bill, that it is not correspondence from the Registry of Deeds and that in fact they owe nothing.” said Register of Deeds Bill O’Donnell.

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The solicitation from Record Transfer Services goes so far as to claim that their $83.00 fee provides evidence that the property was transferred and includes a requested response date which effectively appears to be a due date.

“I am deeply concerned that these solicitations appear to be a bill or an invoice relating to local real estate transactions. Unfortunately consumers are interpreting this as a bill due and not the questionable solicitation that it actually is. It may be legal, but I still think it’s outrageous that these businesses are contacting consumers with the intention to deceive and mislead.” said Register O’Donnell

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To report suspicious third party solicitations regarding your property or any real estate transaction please contacts the Registry’s Customer Service Center by phone at (781)461-6101, or by email at registerodonnell@norfolkdeeds.org.

The Norfolk County Registry of Deeds, located at 649 High Street, Dedham, is the principal office for real property in Norfolk County. The Registry is the basic resource for homeowners, title examiners, mortgage lenders, municipalities and others with a need for secure, accurate, accessible land record information. 

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