The Arkansas Attorney General's Office and Jackson County Circuit Clerk Pam Graham warn of a scam involving landowners that has reached at least one Newport resident.
According to the information released Friday by Graham's office, someone claiming to be the National Deed Service, Inc. of Northbrook, Ill. sent a letter to a Newport resident offering to provide the landowner with an official or certified copy of their deed for $59.50.
However, Arkansans are in danger of over-paying for services if they fall victim to this solicitation, according to Attorney General Dustin McDaniel.
You are probably accustomed to seeing advertisements offering assistance with various services, like getting a copy of the deed to your property, for a fee. What these flyers don't tell you, however, is that many of these services can be completed at no cost or at a lesser cost than advertised.
When it comes to deeds, most homeowners already have copies of their deeds, whether they know it or not. Typically, copies of deeds are included in settlement papers at closing time. Homeowners that have misplaced their copy can obtain another one through their local Circuit Clerk's Office for less than $10, which is a much better deal than the $60 to $70 fee charged by third-parties.
"Do your homework," said McDaniel. "It will save you time and money to call the local government agency in question and figure out if you can do the research or meet the requirement on your own, rather than just taking the seemingly more convenient route and paying somebody else."
Also included in many of these solicitations are requests for the consumer's or business owner's name, address and credit card information to make the payment. As with an solicitation from an unknown source, consumers should not disclose such personal information, as doing so could lead to the theft of their identities.
Consumers can contact the Public Protection Department of the Arkansas Attorney General's Office at 501-682-2341 or toll-free statewide 800-482-8982 if they have questions or concerns about solicitations they have received.
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The Arkansas Attorney General's Office and Jackson County Circuit Clerk Pam Graham warn of a scam involving landowners that has reached at least one Newport resident.
According to the information released Friday by Graham's office, someone claiming to be the National Deed Service, Inc. of Northbrook, Ill. sent a letter to a Newport resident offering to provide the landowner with an official or certified copy of their deed for $59.50.
However, Arkansans are in danger of over-paying for services if they fall victim to this solicitation, according to Attorney General Dustin McDaniel.
You are probably accustomed to seeing advertisements offering assistance with various services, like getting a copy of the deed to your property, for a fee. What these flyers don't tell you, however, is that many of these services can be completed at no cost or at a lesser cost than advertised.
When it comes to deeds, most homeowners already have copies of their deeds, whether they know it or not. Typically, copies of deeds are included in settlement papers at closing time. Homeowners that have misplaced their copy can obtain another one through their local Circuit Clerk's Office for less than $10, which is a much better deal than the $60 to $70 fee charged by third-parties.
"Do your homework," said McDaniel. "It will save you time and money to call the local government agency in question and figure out if you can do the research or meet the requirement on your own, rather than just taking the seemingly more convenient route and paying somebody else."
Also included in many of these solicitations are requests for the consumer's or business owner's name, address and credit card information to make the payment. As with an solicitation from an unknown source, consumers should not disclose such personal information, as doing so could lead to the theft of their identities.
Consumers can contact the Public Protection Department of the Arkansas Attorney General's Office at 501-682-2341 or toll-free statewide 800-482-8982 if they have questions or concerns about solicitations they have received.
