HORRY COUNTY, S.C. (WMBF) – The Recorded Notification Service (RNS) already has several hundred local subscribers, according to Registrar Marion Foxworth.
RNS automatically notifies subscribers whenever a document is filed with the Registrar of Titles in the name of the registrant, allowing potential fraudsters to transfer ownership of real estate without the knowledge of the rightful owner. prevent you from doing so.
“This is another layer of protection,” Foxworth says. “If someone records a deed or records a lien or a judgment against you, you may not even know it’s there.”
Foxworth said this type of fraud is relatively rare, with his office experiencing only a few cases each year. But he urged people to register for the service to ease their fears and receive the latest information.
“There are bad people out there who will steal, rob, and do whatever they can to make illegal profits, which hurts everyone in the long run. It can be very devastating for the person who is targeted,” Foxworth said.
Brian Beverly of Weichert Realtors Southern Coast said Horry County has an interesting case of real estate fraud because many vacant homes were recently built or occupied by vacationers only part of the year. said.
“(Scammers) pray on properties like that because there’s no one there,” Beverly said. “They’re watching the property and they’re aware of it because you’re gone six months out of the year.”
In addition to registering with the county’s RNS, Beverly said there are other steps people can take to prevent property fraud. He said people should ensure all property information is accurate, change passwords on mortgage sites frequently and ensure their mail is recorded even when they’re away.
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