Page 12 - Boca Club News - January '20

Page 12, Boca Club News
Latest Scam: Someone Can Steal Your Home!

Protect Your Home with Our Free Property Fraud Alerts

By County Clerk & Comptroller Palm Beach County’s large number of winter homes fees remain the same. Filers will be required to include an
Sharon R. Bock and investment properties makes our community a prime updated civil cover sheet specifying the dollar amount in
Most of us know to check our target for scammers. Unsuspecting homeowners can face dispute in cases exceeding $8,000 in value. The changes
credit report for signs of fraudulent foreclosure, or, worse, discover that their property has been also require prevailing parties in a Circuit or County Civil
activity, but when was the last time sold without their knowledge or consent. case to file a final disposition form.
you checked the deed to your home? My office has partnered with a private firm to create Clerk’s Office Celebrates 25 Years of Giving Back to the
Your home is one of your a free notification system that alerts residents anytime a Community. This year marks the Clerk office’s milestone
largest and most valuable financial document such as a deed or mortgage is recorded in their year of raising more than $1.2 million in cash donations and
investments, making it a big target name. This free service makes it much more difficult for volunteer hours given by our employees to local nonprofit
for scammers. My office’s free Property Fraud Alert scammers to go undetected. organizations since 1994 through the “Clerks for a Cause”
program helps you protect your property by notifying you Just like signing up for credit card alerts or identity theft program.
of potential fraud, and providing you with valuable time to protection, our free program gives you the peace of mind More than $40,000 Donated to Local Nonprofits at
stop scammers looking to cash in on your investment. of knowing that your property is being monitored for signs Clerk’s “Money Drop.” Our office celebrated 25 years of
After the housing crisis in 2010, we witnessed the of fraud. supporting charitable causes on Monday, Dec. 9th during
creation and rapid rise of a new, sophisticated crime: the The registration process is quick and easy and can be our annual Circuit Sound holiday concert and “Money
filing of fraudulent deeds and mortgages. completed online from any electronic device, including a Drop” event. This year we distributed more than $40,000
The Palm Beach Post’s November 30th article (“Junk smartphone or tablet. I urge everyone who owns real estate to local nonprofits and fundraised $3,625 for the family
mail alerted woman to her stolen home”) highlights this in Palm Beach County to take advantage of this free service of 3-year-old Dakota Cappel, who was diagnosed with
growing problem, also known as “house stealing.” by registering today at mypalmbeachclerk.com/property- leukemia at 16 months old.
Although a lesser-known scam, property and mortgage fraud-alert. The event capped a record-breaking milestone for the
fraud is now one of the fastest-growing crimes in the United Preventing fraud requires us all to be diligent. Our office. Since 1994, the Clerk & Comptroller’s team has
States, and South Florida is no exception. Property Fraud Alert program is just one of the many ways donated $1 million to more than 100 local nonprofits through
my office is working to serve you every day. our office’s employee-driven Clerks for a Cause charitable
“Life's most persistent Honors. We are proud to be the recipient of a 2019 Gold giving program.
Clerk’s Office Recognized with Stevie Awards Top

Clerk Employees Donate More than 1,000 Gift Items to
and urgent question is, Stevie Award! The Stevie Award recognizes outstanding Local Children in Need. Clerk & Comptroller employees
women and organizations in the corporate, nonprofit and
spread holiday cheer with gifts for 256 local children in need
government sectors from around the world. Our office was
participating in the Back to Basics Angel program. Back
What are you named as the Organization of the Year for Government or to Basics is a Wellington-based nonprofit that provides the
basic necessities for children in need across our community.
Non-Profit agencies with more than 10 employees. I was
also honored to be recognized as the Silver Stevie Award
Employees donated holiday gift packages filled with new
doing for others?” winner in the category of Female Executive of the Year – shoes, socks, underwear and a toy totaling more than
Government or Non-Profit, 11 to 2,500 Employees.
$10,000 in gift items.
Midwestern Communities Service Center is Now Open In addition to the holiday packages, our Clerk &
Martin Luther King Jr. on Fridays. This branch office in Royal Palm Beach is now Comptroller’s team also donated $2,130 to Back to Basics
through the office’s Dress Down Program.
open on Fridays. The office has resumed normal operating
Free DIY in Court Workshops. Are you representing
Martin Luther King Jr. Day! hours of Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. yourself in court? The Clerk & Comptroller’s Self-Service
Civil Court Jurisdictional Changes. Effective Jan. 1st,

January 20 county court jurisdictional thresholds increased to $30,000, Center hosts free workshops each month on a variety of
MorseLife-10.25x8- Seabreeze.qxp_Layout 1 11/26/19 11:31 AM Page 1
and small claims cases include cases up to $8,000. Filing topics.

The need

is great

and the

time is

NOW In Palm Beach County, approximately 5,000 of the remaining Holocaust Survivors are living in poverty and

isolation, existing on meager pensions. They survived unspeakable cruelty in their youth and are still suffering today.

We couldn’t rescue them then, but we can help them now.

MorseLife Health System is committed to helping these special members of our community live the rest of
their lives with the dignity and security they deserve, by providing nutritious food, home health care, transportation to
doctors’ appointments, companionship and other necessities.

We need your help.The cost of these basic services is thousands of dollars per Survivor per year, depending upon
the level of need.
Please donate today as we fulfill this sacred responsibility.

MorseLifeFoundation.org | 561.475.3404
Marilyn and Stanley M. Katz Seniors Campus