Chancery Clerk Cindy Goode remembers seeing advertisement after advertisement on television last fall related to fraud prevention.
Goode said those advertisements, alongside a growing number of concerns from Lowndes County residents, made her realize how widespread issues related to fraud had become in the country and in the county.
That’s part of the reason she took to Facebook on May 26 to remind county residents that there are already steps they can take for free through her office’s property fraud detection service.
“People that I knew would come in, and some people would be worried,” Goode said. “(They would say) ‘Well, how do we know? Because (fraud) happened to people in other states.’ … And I said, ‘Well you can always come check with us, and we can check your record.’ … I can’t tell you that it’s not ever going to happen … but this is just a little bit of peace of mind.”
The chancery clerk’s office in 2024 established its property fraud detection service and alert system for property owners in Lowndes County.
According to data published by the Mississippi Department of Public Safety, 98 cases of property fraud were reported in Lowndes County last year.
The chancery clerk’s service helps to alert residents specifically to potential cases of identity theft or fraudulent property transfers by notifying them about any new filings or alterations made to documents like mortgages and deeds filed in a resident’s name.
During its first two years, Goode said it was hard to drum up much interest in the service, but since posting to Facebook, at least a few hundred residents have already contacted the office about it.
“A lot of people have thanked me for doing this in the event that it does happen,” Goode said. “It just gives them another cushion, or an extra layer, if you will, to feel a little bit better because … they worry.”
Any Lowndes County property owner or business can enroll in the alert system by entering their name, phone number and an email address on the service’s website to enroll in the notification system.
Filings could also include those made outside the county under a property owner’s name in other states.
“This is a way to be aware, (and) just set it (up) and forget it,” Goode said. “… And just know that if you get that email, that ‘Hey, I need to check into that.’”
Those interested in signing up for alerts from the chancery clerk’s fraud protection service can enter their information at the office’s website or call the office at (662) 329-5800.
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 37 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
