Essex County Homeowners Warned Of Deed Solicitation Scam

SALEM, MA — Essex County homeowners are being warned about a direct-mail solicitation that offers a copy of the deed to their home for a $100 fee.

Deeds are available free of charge through the Southern Essex Register of Deeds office.

"It is important that people know they can get copies of their deeds for free through the Registry so they do not fall victim to these solicitations," Duff said. "When residents receive this official-looking document, it can cause alarm and lead to them paying upwards of $100 for a document they have every right to access for free.

"In these economic times, it is outrageous that hardworking people could be, and are being, targeted like this."

Residents can search the Registry's records by name, address, or title references such as book and page, document number, etc. directly at SalemDeeds.com.

Documents can be viewed and/or printed from your own home at no cost. If anyone needs assistance, they can contact the Registry of Deeds Customer Service Desk via telephone at 978-542-1704 or email us at SouthernEssexCustomerService@sec.state.ma.us.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)