SALEM — Southern Essex County homeowners have a new tool to protect against property fraud, thanks to a free alert system launched by the Register of Deeds.
Eileen Duff, the Register for Southern Essex County, announced the Property Watch service on Jan. 16, which aims to notify property owners of potential fraudulent activities related to their properties.
Duff emphasized the importance of safeguarding one’s home, stating that property and mortgage fraud are among the fastest-growing white-collar crimes in the U.S.
The Property Watch service is designed to alert owners to any documents recorded at the Southern Essex District Registry of Deeds that could affect their property, such as deeds, mortgages, and foreclosure deeds.
Property owners can sign up for the service by visiting www.salemdeeds.com/AlertWebSite/SignUp.aspx and entering their email address and property details.
The system allows for up to five different name and address combinations per email address, ensuring comprehensive coverage for those with multiple properties.
Following registration, users will receive confirmation and subsequent alerts only if documents matching their name and address are recorded.
For those without email access or needing to change their notifications, the Registry of Deeds Customer Service can be reached at 978-542-1704 for assistance.
The Registry, which recently relocated to 100 Cummings Center, Suite 206-C in Beverly, provides resources for homeowners and professionals in need of secure and accurate land record information.
Further assistance can be obtained by contacting the Southern Essex County Registry of Deeds Customer Service Desk via phone or email at [email protected].