New service in Dinwiddie’s Circuit Court helps Virginians prevent deed fraud

DINWIDDIE COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) -- A new service in Dinwiddie County's Circuit Court Clerk's Office could help Virginians protect their property from deed fraud.

"VADeed Alert" is a free, voluntary notification service designed by the Office of Executive Secretary (OES) that allows residents to receive electronic notifications whenever a document is recorded that matches their name or Tax Map/Parcel ID number, according to a March 12 press release from the county.

"Deed fraud is a growing concern nationwide,” said J. Barrett Chappell, Jr., Clerk of Circuit Court, in the release. “VADeed Alert gives property owners a simple and effective way to stay informed and take quick action if something doesn’t look right."

According to the release, these alerts offer Virginians early warning signs of potentially fraudulent activity, which may include unauthorized deed transfers or filings.

"The service does not prevent documents from being recorded, nor does it validate the legality of a filing," the county emphasized in the release.

The new service is an added layer of awareness and comes amid a rise in this type of fraud nationwide.

"VADeed Alert" allows property owners to review activity related to their property and contact the Clerk’s office or seek legal advice if needed, the release said.

Property owners can visit the "VADeed Alert" website to register and start receiving notifications.