Butler County recorder offers fraud protection tool

Butler County Recorder Danny Crank has started a new service that helps people keep track of their property records for early detection if someone fraudulently records documents against their property. FILE PHOTO

Butler County Recorder Danny Crank has started a new service that helps people keep track of their property records for early detection if someone fraudulently records documents against their property. FILE PHOTO

Butler County Recorder Danny Crank has a new and improved tool to alert property owners if someone has tried to hijack the deed to their land.

“We did this because for a year and a half or longer you see the ads on TV, you know somebody could steal your property. Every time I talk to somebody in the public that would be their first question to me,” Crank said. “So I thought well I want to try to ease the people of Butler County and let them know the situation. You can sign up for free with my office and you’ll be notified the very next day.”

He had a method for tracking potential fraudulent transfer in place, but they have revamped it and are making sure everyone knows about it.

He said there isn’t a big problem in Butler County but it is a rising trend nationally. His office mailed out 93,000 postcards recently notifying property owners about the new tool and the response has been huge, “the weekend we sent the card out we had over 900 people sign up.” As of Monday more than 3,600 people have enrolled.

Crank’s Chief Deputy Denise Goll said people can sign up online or in person using their name — best to enter proper name and nicknames — or a lot number to get notification when any changes have been recorded in their office.

“If a document is recorded in our office and we index the alert information, they will receive an email telling them that something was recorded, the date, book and page and if they do not know what it is they should contact our office,” Goll said. “We are not seeing deed fraud in Butler County, but it is happening in Ohio and across the nation. We are trying to be proactive in having an alert system in place so that if something does happen to their property, they find out now and not six months from now.”

The FBI doesn’t track home title theft specifically, but there were 9,521 real estate fraud complaints and $145 million in losses reported in 2023.

Deed fraud often involves quitclaim deeds, which is a transfer of property without guaranteeing that the grantor has valid ownership. It’s most commonly used in non-sale situations, such as transfers between family members.

Crank said the crux of the crime lies with the notary publics who are charged with verifying people and property transfers.

“A deed is only as good as the person who notarizes that deed, in other words the notary on that deed must make sure they see the identification of everybody involved in that transfer,” Crank said. “If you’ve got a notary who doesn’t do their job or is in on the theft of the property that’s the person causing the problem.”


HOW IT WORKS

To set up an alert property owners can go to: recorder.bcohio.gov/property_alert and establish an account. For more information call: 513-887-3192.

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