Needed: Stronger Protections Against Property and Title Fraud

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The Madera County Grand Jury recommends that the Clerk-Recorder’s Office, within an established timeline - develop, test, and implement an electronic and written notification system to alert property owners of any documents submitted, recorded, or filed against their property. Additionally, in alignment with practices adopted by other California counties mentioned in the above discussion section, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office should: ● Offer alerts for property and identity protection ● Conduct regular reviews of property records ● Require valid identification for all document recordings Examples of Issues Needing Addressed: Forged Deeds & Unauthorized Transfers: Implement stricter verification protocols for deed and title transfers to prevent unauthorized actions by individuals using falsified identification, notary stamps, or forged signatures. Illegitimate Liens: Establish rigorous lien verification procedures to prevent fraudulent liens with no legal basis, protecting property owners from costly legal disputes. Fraudulent Loan Clearances (Mortgage Re-conveyance Fraud): Implement safeguards to prevent manipulation of loan records that falsely show debts as paid, which can enable unauthorized individuals to secure additional loans against a property.