New Hanover County officials are warning of a possible deed scam targeting North Carolinians.
A news release from the county said a company called Deed Retrieval Services, whose mailings carry a Raleigh address, is contacting property owners to offer copies of their deeds and property profiles for a fee of $86. The notice threatens a $35 service fee for recipients who don’t respond by a specified date.
A copy of the two-page mailing is viewable here.
New Hanover County Registrar Jennifer MacNeish issued the warning after several other registrars in the state reported that residents in their communities had received the letters, though none were known in New Hanover County.
“Homeowners need to be aware that these solicitations come from a third party and are not associated with a government agency,” MacNeish said.
All New Hanover County property deeds are recorded and kept at the Register of Deeds office at 216 N. Second Street in Wilmington and only the registrar’s office can issue certified copies, “which are legally equivalent to the original,” the county’s release said. “At the time of recording, the original deed is returned directly to the owner or their attorney upon processing.”
For more information persons may visit the New Hanover County Register of Deeds online at https://www.nhcgov.com/ROD or call (910) 798-4530.
