Houghton County Clerk Jennifer Kelly began Houghton's Property Fraud Alert system in response to an increase in white collar crime that left people susceptible to fraud

You’ve owned your home for years. You apply for a loan or try to sell your house and find out that you can’t. Why? Because you don’t own it any more. Someone has fraudulently changed the name on the deed.

“It happens more than you can imagine,” says Jennifer Kelly, Houghton County clerk and register of deeds. “According to the FBI, it’s the fastest-growing white-collar crime nationwide.”

Kelly regularly attends webinars about property fraud. “I hear horrible things,” she says. “People have lost billions of dollars. I’ve gotten fearful. I don’t want that to happen here. I don’t want anyone to lose even $1.”

So she is doing something to help protect property owners in Houghton County. It’s a program called Property Fraud Alert, and it’s available free to residents who sign up for it.

Here’s how the Property Fraud Alert system works. Once you sign a simple form, you will be contacted immediately if anyone files a deed or other legal document related to your property. Then you can follow up and correct any error.

Even something as simple as a bank mistake will trigger a property fraud alert.

The property fraud alert does not prevent fraud from happening. But it provides an early warning system so property owners can take action if fraud or a mistake has occurred.

Kelly doesn’t think we are seeing much property fraud here yet. “But I want to prevent it,” she says. “I want to see people protected.”

Bills are going through the legislature to address fraudulent property sales, she said .

Property Scam

In January, Kelly issued a press release about a potential property scam by a company called MV Realty.

“MV Realty usually contracts with telemarketing companies and appears to be preying on unsuspecting homeowners, offering them fast cash in exchange for a potential 40-year restriction on their property that may not be in their best interest,” Kelly said in the press release. She urged homeowners to contact an attorney before signing any such agreement. “Without due diligence, this could allow an out-of-state company to potentially record a 40-year lien against your property that binds even future successors of interest,” she warned.

After investigating around 1,500 complaints from consumers related to mortgages in 2022, the Federal Communications Commission announced that they are taking “decisive action to shut down an apparent homeowner-focused robocall scam campaign.”

Fraud Alert in Houghton

So far, 1,300 people have signed up for the fraud alert here. “That’s not as many as I would like,” says Kelly. “There are 37,313 people living in Houghton County.”

One couple in Houghton who asked to remain anonymous signed up for the fraud alert after they experienced identity theft last year. “It has given us peace of mind,” they said.

Kelly urges people to sign up. “I want to see our homeowners protected,” she says. “Actually, I’m not urging. I’m begging. I’m pleading.”

Access the free property fraud alert form at www.propertyfraudalert.com or call 1-800-728-3858. Contact County Clerk Jennifer Kelly at 906-482-1150 with any questions.