The Clerk’s Office will be closed on September 25th, 2023 in observance of the Yom Kippur holiday. Staff will be available to assist you with filing for a restraining order from 7am until 10am at the Edgecomb Courthouse located at 800 E. Twiggs St. Tampa.

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CLERK OF COURT & COMPTROLLER

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FLORIDA

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Property Fraud Alert

Property Fraud Video Message from Cindy Stuart
Property Fraud Message from Cindy Stuart

Property Fraud Message Transcript

I’m Cindy Stuart—your Hillsborough County Clerk of Court and Comptroller. 

If you’re purchasing, refinancing, downsizing or making any real estate transaction. My office is here to help you. 

Hillsborough County is a hotspot for property fraud. Criminals are stealing homes before owners even realize it.

Our free property fraud alert program notifies a homeowner within 48 hours after a document, like a mortgage or a deed, is recorded using their name or business name. 

My goal is for every Hillsborough County homeowner to sign-up.

It only takes five-minutes. 

Protect your most valuable investment—your home.
 

 
What is Property Fraud?

Property and mortgage fraud is the fastest growing white-collar crime in the United States, according to the FBI. Scammers file fake deeds, making it appear as if they own homes that are not actually theirs. These scammers then trick people into giving them money to rent or buy those homes.

Property Fraud Alert is a free service to help you protect your property from fraud by monitoring the documents being recorded in the Official Records of the Clerk of Court.   

By signing up for FREE property fraud alerts, you will receive notification by email or telephone whenever a document is recorded in Hillsborough County using your name or your business’s name.  If you receive an alert about activity not initiated by you, this early notification can provide valuable time to stop criminals in their tracks.  Reviewing your property records is an important way to protect yourself from fraud.  I encourage you to sign up today and take advantage of this free service.

Sign up for the FREE Property Fraud Alert now.

Signing up is quick and easy! Simply follow these steps:

  1. Online go to Property Fraud Alert or call (800) 728-3858.
  2. Click ‘Continue’ to begin the registration process.
  3. Choose whether you would like to monitor a person’s name or a business name.
  4. Enter the name you would like to monitor.
  5. Enter either an email address or telephone number where you would like to be alerted.

Under Florida Law, the Clerk’s Office is a public agency subject to Florida’s public records law. Any e-mail addresses and phone numbers in the possession of the Clerk’s Office are considered public records and subject to release upon proper request. If you have any concerns regarding your e-mail address and/or phone number being released if requested in an appropriate public-records request, you should consider whether to register with this system.

NOTE: Repeat the process to monitor additional names. If you entered an email address, you will receive a confirmation message. 

You Receive an Alert

  • When a document is recorded that matches your monitoring criteria.
  • The alert will provide you with an instrument number.
  • Search the online Official Records Index to view the actual document. To search using the Instrument Number, choose the Instrument # in the upper left corner of the page and enter the instrument number from your Property Fraud Alert.
  • For assistance researching documents, please contact the Clerk’s Recording Department at (813) 276-8100.
  • Contact law enforcement if you suspect you are a victim of fraud.

As your Clerk, I urge you to monitor public records filed using your name, because it is an important way to protect yourself from fraud.  Don't delay, sign up today!

To change or cancel your Property Fraud Alerts Subscription

  • Please call (800) 728-3858

Property and Mortgage Fraud