ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Property fraud, also known as deed fraud or home title theft, is being called the fastest-growing white-collar crime by the FBI. Scammers can hijack a property title, often going undetected unless homeowners actively monitor official records.
A new, free notification service offered by the St. Johns County Clerk’s Office is helping residents stay one step ahead of fraudsters.
Micheline Boutin, a local homeowner, recently fell victim to a title fraud scheme while trying to sell her home.
“They recorded a memorandum of purchase on my title,” Boutin explained. “They hijack your title and then they want money to release it.”
The scammer forged Boutin’s name on a deed to illegally sell her property. Fortunately, she said she discovered the fraudulent activity thanks to the property fraud alert system offered by the Clerk’s Office.
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Ashanti Austin, Chief Administrative Officer at the St. Johns County Clerk’s Office, emphasizes the importance of the service.
“I think that this happening to one resident is one too many. We want to get the message out far and wide,” Austin said.
While the service won’t prevent fraud, it serves as an early warning system for illegal activity.
The process takes less than 30 seconds, with the final step being an email verification.
Once registered, homeowners will be alerted anytime an official document is recorded in their name with the Clerk’s Office.
“You won’t see the benefits of this program unless you go and sign up yourself,” Austin added. “It’s kind of like insurance—it’s not there until you need it.”
The only information needed to enroll in the service is a first and last name, a business name (if applicable), and an email address. Homeowners who use multiple names should submit a separate request for each name.
For more information or to sign up, visit the St. Johns County Clerk’s Office website.