A newly enhanced Land Notification alert system is now available to help Kenosha County
property owners protect themselves against deed fraud, Register of Deeds Jennifer Mack
announced.
This free service allows users to receive email or text message alerts when documents are
recorded against their property, or when a document that includes their name is recorded.
Mack said this is an easy way for property owners to help protect their home and not become a
victim of a bigger scam, which is growing nationally.
With deed fraud, Mack said, bad actors may record documents that could lead to a fraudulent
transfer of properties. This can happen by forgery, through transfers under false pretenses, and/or
through notary fraud, she said.
“Deed fraud typically occurs on unoccupied properties, vacant land and high-valued homes with
no mortgage,” Mack said. “By signing up for alerts, you can know right away if fraudulent
documents have been filed against your property.”
Mack noted that, by law, her office is responsible for recording all documents that appear to meet
with statutory requirements. While the Register of Deeds Office is unable to detect deed fraud,
property owners can work with the office and law enforcement to reverse these recordings if the
fraudulent activity is detected quickly.
Available online at https://landnotification.kenoshacountywi.gov/LandNotification, the Land
Notification system requires users to register and enter their name and property information
(such as an address or a parcel number), as well as the email address or cellphone number where
they’d like to receive alerts. Users may create alerts for multiple properties or names.
1010 56th Street • Kenosha, WI 53140 • 262-653-2441
Jennifer.Mack@kenoshacountywi.gov • www.kenoshacountywi.govMack said users will not receive unwanted emails or text messages, and that alerts may be
deactivated at any time. Detailed signup and user instructions are available on the Land
Notification system webpage.
Property owners who signed up to receive email alerts under a previous version of the system
will continue to receive alerts through the new system, Mack said. However, those individuals
will need to register with the new system to add text message alerts or to add or change property
or name information.
“Deed fraud doesn’t happen often, but it’s growing — and it’s something that has the potential to
have major ramifications on someone’s life,” Mack said. “The Land Notification tool is an early
warning system to help property owners protect themselves from this unlawful activity.”
For more information or to ask questions about the Land Notification system, contact the
Register of Deeds Office at 262-653-2444.