PROTECT SELF FROM BAD REAL ESTATE RINGS

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this type of fraud, authorities say homes are illegally taken without owners’ consent.

The rise of technology has made it easy to create fraudulent documents that can be easily recorded in public records, and these documents can make it appear your prop- erty was sold or belongs to someone else. As with most dangers, awareness and dil- igence are the best ways to protect yourself.

Since the property appraiser keeps records online, the most straightforward way to make sure you are not a victim of this sort of fraud is to check regularly. But with the press of modern life, it can be diffi- cult to remember to do this.

This leads to what I consider the most important method: being aware of changes.

For example, if you start get- ting mail for a different name at your address or stop getting mail you normally might, it can be a sign that there is an issue. Any new deed recorded in the public records triggers a slew of mail ads, so they are a great warning something is up. Another example can be sudden unsolicited interest from prospective real estate agents, water softener or similar home service-related companies, or even prospective tenants showing up at your home. If anything sets off your “gut-check alarm,” go online and check the property appraiser for changes — and then check it again a few weeks later to confirm. The overarching lesson is to investigate anything that seems strange. Most times there will be nothing amiss. But once in a while there is, and it is much easier to avoid a problem than to spend a lot of time and money fixing one.