More property owners across the nation are having their deeds and important home mortgage documents online intercepted by fraudulent criminals hacking into their documents and what is supposed to be secure and private information.

While there hasn’t been a prevalence of this being reported to the Lycoming County Register and Recorder in the Lycoming County Courthouse, the office has recently launched a free service that can provide property owners who sign up for a free Fraud Alert service with an extra level of peace of mind and security on what is arguably their largest and most valuable asset – such as their deed and/or mortgage.

Lycoming County Register and Recorder David A. Huffman and his co-workers have introduced what is known as a “Fraud Alert” which can within 24 hours of the fraud or change in status occurring notify property owners of any new transactions.

“It’s completely free,” Huffman said at the office to demonstrate the ease of signing up for the service online.

“Your property is your most valuable asset,” Huffman said. “This is an easy way for homeowners to have peace of mind,” he said.

The office had two pieces of valuable information. The first is the new public search site for the Register & Recorder Office is at https://searchings.com/PALC.

And for purposes of what is new, a Fraud Alert sign up for property owners in Lycoming County at https://searchings.com/fraudalert/?CC=PALC.

With Fraud Alert, users can sign up to receive alerts whenever a document, such as a deed or mortgage, is recorded under their name. Documents can be viewed online or at the Register and Recorder site.

There may be other property owners in the county that share the same name, so the system can help because it will kick-back the email alert to the user should there be any evidence of fraud or attempt.

IQS, a technician service working in the county, oversees the system.

“Anyway to help the property owner is what we want to do,” Commissioner Scott Metzger, chairman of the board, said of the new service.

He remarked on how deed and mortgage crimes are increasing across the nation. While Huffman said none yet has come across his desk, the added and free peace of mind for property owners is an extra layer of protection in these times when technology and information online is easy to get into the hands of criminals.

Commissioner Marc C. Sortman echoed what Metzger and Huffman said as the system has been introduced to the public.

While at the office, Huffman and a third-party consultant with Info Quick Solutions Inc. (IQS), Matt Abert, account executive, IQS, demonstrated how easy it was to sign up for the free Fraud Alert service.

A lot of the counties where the IQS runs the software get reports from the Recorder of Deeds and a lot of calls because they are hearing about the scams and ask what can they do, Abert said.

All anyone needs to sign up is a valid email address. It will search for an exact name to a point. Sign up with the way sign-ins are done. Can add a middle initial or not. Some put it in. A spouse can be added. Agree to the terms and conditions. It does not hold the county responsible for anything. An email will be sent to those who sign up to prevent signing in with the wrong email.

It prompts the user to check the confirmation email, and it’s all set up.

Once confirmed, the user can return back to the Register and Recorder site and allow the user to manage the account, such as unsubscribe, or change names. It is easy to unsubscribe if the user chooses to.

The database will run a query every night should there be a recording placed on that day, such as a property deed transfer etc. The system will then alert the user, such as the type of record – deed or mortgage. The office, meanwhile, allows the users free access to view their records from the comfort of their home.

Any property that is vacant seems to be more of a target for thieves lately. The kind of fraud happening the most are people who have vacant land, Abert said.

It is easier to go unnoticed. Fraud occurring on vacant land is not so prevalent in Pennsylvania, but is throughout the Eastern Seaboard, more in Rhode Island and New England area.

If the property is fraudulently sold that transaction can go unnoticed for a while if there is not a Fraud Alert system attached because there are no homes, structures or people living there.

Again, overall, it’s not happening daily but it happens.

If alerted within 24 hours of it happening, the victim/user can go to a private attorney and notify the police.

“This office is not aware of any issues that have occurred in Lycoming County,” Huffman said. “It gives people an additional sense of security in these modern times.”

It launched with new software in August.

IQS is based out of Liverpool, New York, a suburb of Syracuse.

The firm was selected after Huffman interviewed land record vendors available in Pennsylvania and when he interviewed IQS he had key members of his staff, his information technology department involved.

There were about a dozen individuals in the room where the IQS professionals demonstrated the software and showed Huffman and the team what the system can do.

The county remains cognizant of expenses and what services are needed.

“We included the commissioners office, the planning department and invited people to come to be a part of these interviews,” Huffman said. “Everybody was included because that is the way I work in this office. It is all-inclusive.”

Then, as any other interview process, a decision was made on who would be the best to provide for the needs of the county residents.

IQS is in over 110 recording jurisdictions. It has a presence in Pennsylvania, New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Maine.

The company has been running software for 26 years.

“They are well established,” Huffman said.

The alert is sent out less than 24 hours to when it is recorded, Abert noted.

Special cards announcing the launch are in the Register and Recorder’s office and Huffman recently attended the Senior Expo, handing the cards to state legislators.

“There is no additional fee to the county for the fraud alert,” Abert said.