A recent scam is sending letters to homeowners offering a copy of the deed to their house for an outrageous fee.
The Scott County Recorder, Rita Vargas, is urging residents to be cautious if they get something in the mail asking them if they want a copy of their deed and property assessment.
Along with Scott County, many recorder’s offices across Iowa have gotten reports from residents concerned about letters they got in the mail saying there was “deed activity recorded in public record” and urging them to get a “current property grant deed and assessment.”
The notice is made to make a homeowner think there has been a recently recorded document, which is often untrue. The company is then charging $83 for the service.
“Anyone receiving this notice should not be alarmed or feel that it is necessary to respond to it,” Vargas said.
Vargas offered that the copy of a deed is simply obtained by searching Recorder’s Office records, and usually costs less than a dollar.
If you have questions about this scam or want to ask about getting a copy of your deed, call the Scott County Recorder’s Office at 563-326-8621.
