Greensburg — A scam which was circulating throughout the area last August has now returned to Decatur County.

Decatur County Recorder Denise Zeigler told the Daily News that homeowners are receiving letters which ask people to send nearly $80 to $90 in order to receive a copy of the deed to their home. Some victims are also receiving “final notice” warnings which attempt to pressure unsuspecting people into sending money.

The documents are official-looking with an address to “Record Transfer Service” in Washington D.C. The letter also reads “DEED PROCESSING NOTICE” and contains a “compliance response date” complete with a document number.

The letters appear to be targeting the elderly and new homeowners.

“Deeds are a dollar a page,” said Zeigler. “We’ve had several phone calls, and some people have come in,” in response to having received the letters.

Zeigler said that the Recorder’s Office has been receiving phone calls from a company in California which has been requesting copies of deeds. She believes the company is part of the scam to sell the deeds at nearly 90 times their actual price.

Zeigler said that the Indiana Attorney General is working to stop the letters.

Many scams are operated overseas which is where the money will eventually end up, making tracing and recovering the lost funds extremely difficult, she said.

Zeigler said anyone who receives a letter should call the Recorder’s Office at 812-663-3681.



Contact: Tess Rowing 812-663-3111 x7004