County office launches fraud protection program

The Ozaukee County Register of Deeds Office is offering a free online subscription service that allows county residents and businesses to have their name monitored within the office to help protect them from identity theft and other fraud.

  Subscribers to the service, known as Property Fraud Alert, “will be notified when the name they have submitted is used on any document brought in for recording,” Register of Deeds Jennifer Laurin said.

Subscribers can enter their name or business name and receive notification by email, text or telephone call.

“To date we have not had any fraudulent deeds recorded that we are aware of,” Laurin said in an email. “There have been some instances of fraud in other counties throughout the state, however.

“Currently we have 1,731 Property Fraud Alert subscribers” in Ozaukee County.

“Protecting the consumer is a priority for my office. Unfortunately, property fraud and identity theft continue to rise, and victims are often unaware that their homes or identities have been stolen,” Laurin said.

“While property fraud alert does not prevent fraud from happening, it provides an early notification system for property owners to take appropriate actions,” she said.

To register, visit the Ozaukee County Register of Deeds office website at ozaukeecounty.gov/199/Register-of-Deeds, call Property Fraud Alert at (800) 728-3858, or visit the Register of Deeds Office on the first floor of the county Administration Center, 121 W. Main St., Port Washington.