Orange County Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen continues to strengthen efforts to protect homeowners from real estate fraud through the ongoing use of Real Property Fraud Prevention Courtesy Notices - a trusted program that alerts property owners whenever documents are recorded on their property.
To further support homeowners, the Clerk-Recorder’s Office continues its partnership with the Orange County District Attorney’s Office, providing direct reporting options for suspected fraud. Homeowners who receive a notice and believe a transaction may be fraudulent are encouraged to contact the Real Estate Fraud Unit directly at REFraud@ocdapa.org.
“These notices have been critical in helping property owners spot suspicious activity early,” said Clerk-Recorder Hugh Nguyen. “With countywide support, we are ensuring that fraud prevention remains a top priority.”
Courtesy notices are automatically mailed to property owners when certain documents - such as grant deeds, quit claim deeds, trustee’s deeds, or notices of default - are recorded on their property. Each notice includes a copy of the first page of the recorded document so homeowners can quickly confirm whether the transaction is legitimate.
Over the years, the program has expanded to include a broader range of document types and remains one of the most proactive fraud-prevention tools offered by the County Clerk-Recorder.
For questions, please call the Clerk-Recorder’s information line at (714) 834-2500 during normal business hours, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding holidays. Visit OCClerkRecorder.gov for details. For media inquiries, please contact Billy Le at 714-834-2248.