YOUNGSTOWN — The Mahoning County Recorder’s Office is working to make property records more accessible while expanding fraud protection.

Recorder Richard Scarsella’s office has expanded its online records system to allow users to view actual recorded document images remotely through the Laredo Anywhere platform.

“Giving the public direct online access to document images, not just our index, is a big step forward for our office,” Scarsella said. “The records we maintain are central to buying, selling and financing property in our community, and this update makes that information easier to access for title companies, attorneys, and residents alike.”

Anyone interested can contact the recorder’s office to sign up for access to Laredo Anywhere or complete the Laredo Sign-Up Form, available on the Recorder’s Office page at www.mahoningcountyoh.gov/215/Recorder.

Chief Deputy Noralynn Palermo said the form only takes a couple of minutes to fill out, and then the user will receive a password by email. Once they plug in the password, they’re free to begin using the platform.

Fidlar Technologies provides training webinars and step-by-step guides to help new users get started with Laredo. More information is available at https://www.fidlar.com/LaredoAnywhere.aspx.

Palermo said users can access images and records they used to have to come into the office to access, or call to have the documents printed out or emailed to them. Users can access records from a computer or mobile device after signing up.

The platform provides access to records dating back to 1980. The recorder’s office maintains records of all real estate transactions in the county, including deeds, mortgages, power-of-attorney filings, and liens, including mechanics liens.

While those documents must be filed through the Mahoning County Auditor’s Office, the completed documents are not official until they are processed through the recorder’s office.

FRAUD PROTECTION

But with easier access, there also comes risk for homeowners.

Fraudulent quit-claim transfers have become much more prevalent in recent years. In January, Scarsella’s and Mahoning County Auditor Ralph Meacham’s offices rolled out separate fraud protection technologies, and now Scarsella’s office has added another.

The recorder’s newly launched Property Fraud Alert is a free notification service that alerts subscribers when potentially fraudulent activity involving their property is recorded. Residents can register online, by QR code or by phone, and choose to receive notifications by text, phone call or email.

The recorder’s alert system allows owners to register all of their properties, while the auditor’s alert system only permits one owner-occupied property to be monitored. However, Palermo notes that the fraud is only caught after the fact.

“It’s good to know if someone is doing something and then you can go from there,” she said.

But the office cannot really prevent a fraudulent transaction.

“There’s nothing we can do. If somebody brings a deed in and it has everything the state requires, we can’t refuse it, and how would we know if someone is filing fraudulently?” she said.

Meacham explained in January that once a deed is transferred, it is very difficult and time consuming to undo it. It usually involves a lengthy legal process, and the cases are known to linger in the courts.

Fraudsters will search online, looking for properties that appear abandoned or show delinquent taxes. Quit-claim deeds are most commonly used among family members who want to transfer a home from one family member to another. It’s a quick, easy process with which scammers can take advantage.

“Most of the fraud that goes on with deeds, it’s between families,” Palermo said. “We forward everything to Attorney Tom Michaels in the (Mahoning County) Prosecutor’s Office.”

Homeowners have two options through the recorder’s office and can use both. One is a strictly online program that asks for basic information and will automatically inform homeowners if someone executes a title transfer for their home.

The title transfer will go through, but if notified immediately by phone or email, the homeowner will be able to respond quickly.

The second option prohibits the transfer, but requires the homeowner to come into the office with a copy of the deed and proof of identification and ownership.

Meacham and Scarsella explained previously that those attempting to secure a deed fraudulently often have a fraudulent notary public seal, use a bad notary, or they have fraudulent identification documents to trick the notary.

Scarsella’s office in January rolled out new software that will combat that very problem.

The Notary Fraud Alert informs notaries when their seal has been used on a document filed in the recorder’s office.

“This notification can prevent fraud, should the notary seal be used in an unauthorized or illegal way. This service is free to notaries and helps preserve the integrity of the public records in our county,” Scarsella said.

For the recorder’s programs, notaries can register at SalineCounty.org or at NotaryFraudAlert.com. The software allows them to choose daily, weekly or monthly alerts, via text or email if a document with their name is recorded. They can then review the alert for document type, names involved, and document reference number, and take action on any suspicious documents.

Like the Laredo Anywhere software that supports the fraud alert system, the notary fraud alert also was implemented by Fidlar Technologies.