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Last updated on Monday, August 6, 2012
(BLOOMFIELD) - Someone was up to no good last week when they called an elderly Greene County homeowner and claimed to be a county official who needed information about their property.
Anna Rochelle, of the Greene County Daily World reports, but the plot ended quickly thanks to quick action by Greene County Recorder Stuart Dowden.
Dowden, who wants to alert the public to the possibility of property fraud, and the fact that someone has attempted to pull the wool over a homeowner's eyes by falsely claiming to be Dowden.
If it happens again Dowden says homeowners should call the Greene County Sheriff's Department or the Recorder's office.
Dowden was notified about the possible fraud when the homeowner called the recorder's office saying they could not keep their appointment. Dowden was confused because he didn't have any appointments scheduled with homeowners. He immediately contacted the Greene County Sheriff's Department.They in turn contacted one of Greene County's local law enforcement agencies who promptly went out to investigate and talk to the homeowner.
While police were talking to the homeowner, the caller called again to tell the homeowner he would be there soon. Police were waiting with the homeowner but the caller must have gotten wind that police were there. He never showed up.
Dowden says his office does business with a firm, Fidlar Technologies, that provides a property fraud alert service which is free to the county and free to homeowners.
Homeowners just need to sign up for the program. He says it's simple to sign up for the "Property Fraud Alert" service. A property owner should visit the website www.propertyfraudalert.com and select Greene County from a drop-down list of counties.
The visitor will then agree to terms of service, then enter their name and address information, with up to five variations on their name, and leave an email address or a phone number where their alert should be sent. Dowden says the system will trigger an alert to be sent out.
For more information, contact Dowden at the Greene County Recorder's Office.
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