Property owners urged to sign up for fraud alerts
Lee County Clerk & Comptroller Kevin Karnes is urging property owners to register for the Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert after a recent arrest and separate conviction for property fraud-related events.
Property fraud occurs when a party uses a forged deed to sell or transfer property that does not belong to them.
Last month, a Fort Myers man was arrested for attempting to steal a property by filing a fake deed in the Lee Clerk’s Official Records Department. The Clerk’s Property Fraud Prevention Pilot Program provided police with the fraudulent driver license the man used, which led to his arrest. Just a few weeks ago, a woman was convicted in a 2023 case involving her trying to file multiple false deeds at the Clerk’s office to steal properties from the homeowners. The deeds were not accepted by the Clerk, and she was arrested.
The Lee Clerk’s Property Fraud Alert, which is a free service that will notify you within 24 hours if someone files a deed or other official record in your name.
“Criminals shouldn’t be able to steal your home,” said Karnes. “Preventing property fraud is one of my top priorities, and I can’t stress enough the importance of registering for our Property Fraud Alert service. It’s extremely easy to sign up and it will help protect your most valuable asset. There are companies out there that charge for this service, but our office offers it for free.”