The McHenry County Clerk and Recorder’s Office announced on March 30 the launch of a Fraud Referral and Review process, which provides residents with a formal method to report suspected deed or title fraud.
This new initiative works alongside the existing Property Fraud Alert program. Residents who are enrolled in the free alert service can report potential property fraud by calling the Recorder’s Office at 815-334-4110. If needed, cases may be referred to the State’s Attorney’s Office or other law enforcement agencies for further investigation.
“Property fraud can strip families of their most valuable asset and leave them in years of costly legal battles,” County Clerk and Recorder Joe Tirio said. “These two programs give McHenry County residents real tools to protect themselves and a direct line to authorities when something is wrong.”
Deed fraud remains a significant concern across the United States, with criminals forging property owners’ signatures to illegally transfer ownership, sell properties, or use them as collateral for loans. Between 2019 and 2023, more than 58,000 victims nationwide suffered an estimated $1.3 billion in real estate fraud losses, particularly targeting vacant land, investment properties, and homes that have been paid off.
The Property Fraud Alert program notifies enrolled property owners whenever a document is recorded under their name with the County Recorder’s Office. This allows quick action if unauthorized activity occurs. The office encourages all McHenry County property owners to enroll by visiting www.PropertyFraudAlert.com or contacting the office directly.
While efforts are underway to address property-related crime in McHenry County, local schools also show notable trends: The average student-to-teacher ratio was 14-to-1 during the 2022-23 school year among its 45,580 students and 3,317 full-time faculty members according to data from Illinois State Board of Education. Teacher absenteeism stood at 34.2% in that period compared with Illinois’ statewide average of 35.6% as reported by state education officials.
Among county schools during that year: Huntley High School had both the highest enrollment of white students (2,133) according to official statistics as well as multiracial students (135) according to state data; Harvard High School had the highest Hispanic student enrollment at 574 based on state records; Harry D. Jacobs High School led in Black student enrollment with a total of 87 students according to education reports.
