Riverside County residents were warned Wednesday to be wary of a scam targeting property owners with mailed requests for payments to receive copies of documents that are publicly available, likely sent by scam artists seeking easy money.
According to the Assessor-Clerk-Recorder’s Office, in recent weeks there’s been a surge in calls and emails to the office inquiring about invoices that had been received by property owners, notifying them of supposed payments due for copies of deeds, residential plot profiles and other materials.
“When a document is recorded with our office, that information becomes part of the public record,” Assessor-Clerk-Recorder Peter Aldana said. “Some private companies use publicly available information to send letters requesting payment for copies of documents. These letters are not from our office. If you receive a notice about your property and are unsure whether it is official, contact us before sending any payment. We can verify the notice and provide official copies directly.”
Aldana reminded residents the county doesn’t send out “unsolicited letters demanding payment” for documents, doesn’t rely on third-party vendors to collect payments related to property records and will make copies of most documents available to the public at the Assessor-Clerk-Recorder’s Office in downtown Riverside, as well as satellite locations.
Officials said the mailed invoices may contain accurate details about properties, but that doesn’t imply the letters are from a government agency.
There was no word on whether the mailings are under investigation. No business or person was identified in connection with the activity.
More information is available by calling 951-955-6200, or visiting rivcoacr.org.