CHENANGO COUNTY – Chenango County Clerk Mary Weidman is warning Chenango County landowners to be aware of direct mail solicitation letters offering to obtain a certified copy of the landowner’s deed and othe public information at costs of over $80.

“Our residents should know that these letters are a scam,” said Weidman. “Chenango County land deeds are recorded by my office. And there are many easy and much cheaper ways of obtaining a copy or certified copy of a deed, often for as little as $5. Residents should know that if their deed was filed in my office, it has been recorded and remains valid whether or not the homeowner has a certified copy of that deed in their possession.”

Scams like these often claim that in addition to a copy of a landowner’s deed, they will compile a profile of the tax assessment information or their property. However, much of the information these services gather can already be accessed for free by the property owner either through the Chenango County Real Property Tax Department, their local assessor’s office, or by simply looking at their yearly tax bill.