Ask a Librarian: Civic Engagement

Congressman Cleaver's office released this alert on September 26, 2022:

Missouri 5th District Alert Concerning Incidents of Deed Fraud Reported in Jackson County

Authorities in Jackson County have seen a concerning uptick in reports of fraud where forged, false and/or fraudulently induced deeds are recorded against properties in the County without the knowledge or consent of the owner. The purpose of this alert is to educate the public about scams being perpetrated against property owners involving the legal title to their homes, and to inform victims of actions they should take if they detect criminal activity.

Document Recording in Jackson County

Pursuant to State law, the Jackson County recorder's office, upon payment of the proper fees and taxes, must accept and record any document that conforms to legal requirements. In the case of a deed, the recording office will typically ensure that the deed is properly acknowledged by a notary and is compliant with recording requirements set forth by law.

The county recorder is not responsible for verifying the validity, authenticity, or legitimacy of the document that is recorded. If the document meets recording requirements, and the proper fees are submitted, the county recorder is obligated to and will record the document.

Fraudsters continue to exploit the lack of true safeguards or deterrents against recording illegitimate deeds on property. Victims who are most targeted include the elderly, low-income minority homeowners, or those with vacant or already-distressed properties.

Common Scams Involving Fraudulent Deeds

Forgery: A fraudster may forge a homeowner's name on a deed to a home. The deed is acknowledged and signed by a notary public (either legitimately based on false identification or illegitimately), and then recorded, effectively transferring the property to the scammer without the knowledge of the true homeowner.

Misrepresentation/Coercion: A criminal might trick or pressure a homeowner into signing a deed for the home, thus transferring the property to the fraudster or another when the deed is recorded. The homeowner is unaware that the document they are signing is a grant deed or may be misled into believing the documents to be signed are of no consequence or are "just a bunch of legalese" and not important.

In either case, the fraudster seeks to effectively transfer the property away from the true owner to sell or extract equity from the property. You may be a victim without knowing.

When you receive notification or become aware of:

• A recorded document on your property where you never signed the document and your signature was forged;
• A recorded document on your property where ownership in your property, or a portion thereof, was transferred or sold to another party without your knowledge;
• A recorded document on your property where the signer of the document was deceased at the time of execution of the document;
• A loan was taken out on your property without your knowledge; and
• Changes or alterations were made to a recorded document after you signed it.

Also, if you:

• Stop receiving your property tax bill or notices;
• Receive a Notice of Default or Notice of Trustee's Sale when you own your home outright (free and clear of a mortgage loan), or when you have a mortgage and you are not delinquent on your loan payments;
• Receive loan documents in the mail for a loan that was obtained without your knowledge; and/or
• Receive real estate documents in the mail for a transaction on your property that was conducted without your knowledge.

Check Public Records

Residents can verify deed information through the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds website or may consult the Kansas City, MO parcel viewer here, where applicable.

If You Have Been a Victim of Fraudulent Deed Activity, Take Immediate Action

Victims should immediately gather and collect all information, documents, and other evidence and report the forged and/or fraudulent deed to:

1. Jackson County, MO Sheriff's Office and/or the Kansas City, MO Police Department (if applicable)
2. Jackson County, MO Prosecutor's Office
3. Jackson County, MO Recorder of Deeds (the Jackson County Office of the Recorder of Deeds does not have the authority to remove fraudulently recorded documents from the system)

Deed fraud remains a local concern and can scam you out of your home or other property you own. Staying up to date about the status of property titles and records and taking immediate action if you become a victim will help stop this fraud from happening in our community.

For additional information, please contact the Jackson County Recorder of Deeds Office at 816-881-4483.

Sincerely,
Emanuel Cleaver, II
Member of Congress