Dutchess County Clerk Warns Residents Of Deed Scam

POUGHKEEPSIE, NY — A scam related to property deeds is going around Dutchess County. County Clerk Bradford Kendall said a private company, Property Profile Inc., has recently mailed letters to residents information them that, for a fee of $86, the company can retrieve a certified copy of their deed and mail it back to them.

On the company’s website, it states they will obtain a copy of the deed from the county clerk’s office.

Kendall said the solicitation offer costs $75 more than a certified copy of the deed provided by the clerk’s office.

“A certified copy provided by our office by mail costs $11,” he said.

“This is nothing more than a cynical attempt to make money off of the hardworking residents of Dutchess County,” Kendall said.

Obtaining a copy of one's land record at the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office is fast and convenient, he said. You may request a copy by visiting the office at 22 Market Street in Poughkeepsie or by requesting a copy of your deed or any document by sending your request by mail to the Record Room, 22 Market St. Poughkeepsie, NY 12601.

“One of the primary functions of the County Clerk’s Office is to record the land records of Dutchess County and ensure that they are readily available to the public,” Kendall said. “We provide that service in our office and on-line at www.dutchessny.gov/countyclerk. There is no reason a Dutchess County resident would need to reach out to a third party to obtain a certified copy of their deed or any document from my office. We routinely provide a certified copy of a deed for a fee of $6 in office or $11 by mail.”

Anyone who receives this type of letter from any record retrieval company and has questions about their deed or any other legal document may contact the County Clerk’s Office at 845-486-2125.

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