Texas Border Business
EDINBURG – Hidalgo County Clerk Arturo Guajardo, Jr. has launched a free fraud alert service that will notify a property owner when his or her name is used in any recording activity in the Official Records Department.
“Most people don’t check their county records unless they are planning to sell or refinance their property,” said Guajardo. “By then, it may be too late. Our property alert system is one more tool residents can use to protect themselves from thieves.”
To help Hidalgo County property owners from becoming victims, the County Clerk has partnered with Kofile Technologies for the free monitoring service. Subscribers will receive notifications via email each time a document is recorded with their name or property description, Guajardo said.
According to the FBI, property and mortgage fraud is one of the fastest-growing white-collar crimes. Property fraud is committed by introducing fraudulent documents in the County Clerk’s Office that could cloud title or ownership of property. The thief can then attempt to sell or rent the property.
Visit the County Clerk’s website at www.hidalgocountyclerk.us, click on “Official Records,” select “Fraud Alert,” and complete a few simple questions to sign-up; it takes just a few minutes to gain added peace of mind.
