Oswego (WSYR-TV) -- Oswego county officials are warning of a direct mail scam involving deeds and property tax records.
Oswego County Clerk Michael Backus says the letter is from a business called Property Transfer Service, which offers homeowners a service providing them a copy of their deed and complete profile for $83.
Backus says the letter comes with a return address in Washington, D.C. and instructs you to send checks to a processing center in California.
Backus reminds residents that a certified deed can be obtained at the Oswego County Clerk’s office at 46 E. Bridge St., Oswego for $5. He also notes that property tax records are public record and are posted on the Real Property section of the
Oswego County Web site.
Backus said that when a piece of property is legally transferred, the new transaction is recorded in the County Clerk’s Office and the new owner receives the original deed.
Backus says if you should misplace or lose the original copy of your deed, it isn’t necessary to pay a company for a replacement when the county can provide one for $5.
If you’ve received a similar notice, or have any questions, call the County Clerk’s Office at 349-8621, or the Real Property Tax Service at 349-8315.
