Oakland County, Michigan, November 14, 2006 -- A free service to help homeowners protect themselves from deed and mortgage fraud – believed to be the first of its kind in the country – went online today, announced Ruth Johnson, Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds.

FRAUDCHECK, developed with private industry, allows homeowners to go online, enter their name and check to see whether any unauthorized documents have been recorded with the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office in the last 12 months.

“It’s just one more tool in the tool bag to fight these guys,” said Johnson of the name search. “As with everything we do, we will be looking to refine and improve the program as we go along.”

The FBI has named Michigan one of the top 10 hotspots in the country for mortgage fraud. Here in Oakland County, cases involving millions of dollars are under investigation by authorities, Johnson said.

“Imagine having to prove that the home where you raised your children, that you’ve worked your whole life to pay for, is really your home,” she said. “It can be devastating for victims.”

In addition to the new FRAUDCHECK service, Johnson has organized mortgage fraud seminars for seniors, installed cameras in her offices to deter and identify property theft criminals and formed a task force with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office and the Oakland County Prosecutor’s Office.

FRAUDCHECK will allow online viewers the opportunity to see whether any documents, including quit-claim deeds, mortgages and warranty deeds, have been recorded with the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office.

The program is easy to use.
1. Users go to www.landaccess.com.
2. Click on Oakland County.
3. Then, on the upper right hand side of the screen, they click on FRAUDCHECK and enter their name.

The service is available seven-days-a-week, 24-hours-a-day, except during limited computer updating periods.

If homeowners want to conduct further searchers there is a $5 fee. To view/print costs an additional $1 per document.

This may be something that people want to remember to check on the daylight savings time schedule – twice a year in the fall and the spring,” Johnson said. “When you change your clock, check your home on the internet.”

Oakland County victims have discovered that their homes, without their knowledge, had been bought, sold and mortgaged with fraudulent documents. They find out when lending institutions come to foreclose – leaving them with an expensive legal mess to untangle. Seniors are often targeted because their homes are paid off.

Under state law, the Register of Deeds Office must accept documents if they are properly filled out.

“With our system, homeowners can check any time of day or night to see if anything has happened with their property,” Johnson said.

FRAUDCHECK will be available through www.landaccess.com. The web site is operated by the Dallas-based Affiliated Computer Services, which works with the Oakland County Clerk/Register’s Office in electronically recording documents.

“It’s a win-win for everyone,” said John Lockwood, ACS regional vice president. “I think you’ll see other larger counties jumping on board with this as a service to their residents.”

Steve Hagar, president of the Michigan Mortgage Brokers Association, applauded Johnson’s efforts and said FRAUDCHECK could save property owners a lot of heartache.

“The thing is, people have to use it,” Hagar said. “People need to know it’s there and check it every once in a while.”

Kathy Williams, a certified AARP and HUD counselor with Oakland County’s Community and Home Improvement Division, said anything that can help residents protect what is often their largest asset is worthwhile.

“This software is another tool homeowners can use to protect themselves against potential fraud and loss of assets,” Williams said.

Anyone without computer access, as always, is welcome to come to the Oakland County Clerk/Register of Deeds Office, 1200 N. Telegraph in Pontiac. Our staff will be happy to assist them in checking on their property.