22 October Property Deed Letter Scam October 22, 2018 By News Archive Deed Letter Scam, Deed Letter, , Certified Deed Scam 0 Scams have a way of resurfacing every so often and deed scams are currently in the spotlight in Pinellas County. “Unfortunately, it seems to rear its ugly head every few years,” stated Ken Burke, Pinellas County Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller. Pinellas County residents have once again started receiving official-looking letters emphasizing the importance of keeping a certified copy of your property deeds. However, this seemingly informative letter that primarily targets new home owners comes with the hefty price tag of $89.00. The catch is simple – it’s a solicitation scam. Most citizens with a one page deed can easily obtain the same document from the Clerk’s office for $3.00 according to Clerk Burke. It’s $1.00 for the copy and $2.00 for the certification fee. Residents can also print an unofficial copy of their deed for free by using the Clerk’s website in just a matter of minutes. The companies sending out these letters disclose in fine print that they are not affiliated with any state agency and that many records are available for nominal fees from government agencies. When asked why anyone would pay $89 for a copy of the deed, Clerk Burke simply says “It’s a rip off.” A copy of a letter received may be viewed here. If you have any questions, please call (727) 464-7000 or visit the Certified Deeds page. To view the WFLA Channel 8 segment covering this scam, click here. To view the Press Release, click here. Related Articles Pinellas Property Deed Letters – Don’t Fall for the Scam Scams have a way of resurfacing every so often and deed scams are currently in the spotlight in Pinellas County. Jury Duty Scam Another Jury Duty scam is victimizing citizens. The scammer claims to be from the Sheriff’s office and tells the citizen they will need to pay a penalty for missing Jury Service or get arrested. Bond Refund Scam The company, www.bondrefund.com, is apparently sending unsolicited mailers or advertisements to customers who have posted cash bonds in criminal cases and scamming them out of their money. These mailers guarantee recipients that their claim will be processed by the Clerk's office if the customer pays for a special “request packet” and presents the packet to our office. Pinellas Clerk Permanently Closing Tyrone Branch Office On New Year’s Day 2019 Effective Tuesday, January 1, 2019, the Tyrone Branch Traffic Court and Tyrone Branch Clerk of the Circuit Court and Comptroller’s office located at 1800 66th St. N., St. Petersburg, FL, will be permanently closed due to the Courts Consolidation Project. The Clerk’s Tyrone office closure does not impact other agencies located at the branch, such as the Property Appraiser and Tax Collector, which will remain open. Hurricane Dorian - Office Updates The Clerk's office continues to monitor Hurricane Dorian and will be updating this page, along with our Facebook and Twitter pages, as more information is received. Pinellas County’s Constitutional Officers’ Swearing-in Ceremony set for Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Pinellas County's incoming constitutional officers will be sworn in during a ceremony, which will be open to the public, on Tuesday, January 3, 2017. Comments are closed.
