Onondaga County

County Clerk Lisa Dell wants homeowners to be aware of another property deed scam
taking place here in Onondaga County. First Documents, a company based out of California is soliciting consumers who conducted recent real estate transactions offering to sell them copies of the deed to their home and a property assessment profile. The solicitation, which contains public information about the property, instructs the homeowner to include payment of $83 to obtain
these records. The same document can be obtained from the County Clerk’s office for less than $10.00.

“I want the residents of Onondaga County to be aware that the entities marketing such
requests are not related to the County Clerk’s Office or any other department inside Onondaga County government,” said Clerk Lisa Dell. “Deeds for every parcel of land in Onondaga County are recorded and maintained on permanent record at the County Clerk’s Office. The original
deed is returned to the property owner or their attorney after closing at no additional
charge. Property owners wishing to obtain a certified copy of their deed should contact the
Onondaga County Clerk’s Office (315-435-8250) or come in and visit us Monday through
Friday, 8:30am-4:30pm. We are located on the second floor of the old historic court house at 401 Montgomery Street, Syracuse, New York 13202.

The “property assessment profile” they are trying to sell includes information that, not
only does the homeowner not need, can be obtained without cost from the County Real Property Tax Division or the town or city where the property is located.

Because there currently is no law against companies selling you your information or a
limit on what they can charge, Ms. Dell says the best way to protect yourself is to stay vigilant and informed. If you receive, anything in the mail about your property records that seems
questionable, Ms. Dell encouages you to contact her office at 315-435-2226.