LOCAL

Property appraiser warns consumers of shady mail solicitations about documents

Dave Berman
Florida Today
Brevard County Property Appraiser Dana Blickley

Brevard County Property Appraiser Dana Blickley is warning local residents to be aware of shady emails being sent out, offering people assistance in getting copies of public documents.

Blickley says even her adult children were targeted when they made a property transaction, and a company solicited them to buy a copy of the property deed for an  $89 service fee. That's a document that can be printed out for free through the clerk of courts office's website.

Her children knew enough not to take the offer, but some people receiving the mailings get taken.

"If you shotgun these things right, you're going to get some people to bite," Blickley said. "It's a pretty big scam."

Typically, such companies get the information on who made a property transaction from public records, then target those people.

"They just 'data-mine' recorded documents," Blickley said.

It's similar to when someone gets a speeding ticket, then is inundated with mail from attorneys and businesses that offer classes for drivers to help them get points removed from their license.

Blickley said she also has seen solicitations offering to get people the forms needed to file for a property tax homestead exemption — for a hefty fee. 

Those documents are available for free through Blickley's office.

Doubling up on ballot

Some Republican voters in Suntree will be seeing the same name twice on the primary election ballot.

Matt Nye is challenging incumbent Rep. Thad Altman in the Aug. 18 Republican primary for Altman's seat in District 52. The winner will face Democrat Lloyd Dabbs in the Nov. 3 general election.

Matt Nye

The central Brevard County District 52 includes all or part of Indialantic, Indian Harbour Beach, Melbourne, Melbourne Beach, Melbourne Village, southern Merritt Island, Palm Shores, Satellite Beach, Suntree and Viera.

Nye also is on the ballot in a Republican Party election for a precinct committeeman position in Precinct 421 in Suntree.

There are eight candidates seeking five available seats in that precinct. In addition to Nye, the candidates are Timothy Bates, John Fravel Jr., William Haskell, Sanford Charles Olshansky, James Andrew Roemer II, Jeffrey C. Rogers and Paul Saia. The top five vote-getters will win the seats.

Dave Berman is government editor at FLORIDA TODAY.  His Political Spin column runs Sundays in FLORIDA TODAY.

Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or dberman@floridatoday.com. Twitter: @bydaveberman

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