Lucas County, Ohio – The Lucas County Auditor’s Office is sounding the alarm about a deceptive website that pretends to offer property‑search services for a fee. In a statement, Auditor Katie Moline emphasized that the official AREIS (Assessment, Real‑Estate, and Income Search) system is available at no cost through the county’s website.
Free access through the official portal
The legitimate AREIS tool allows residents to look up property ownership, tax assessments, and parcel information without any charge. “The real AREIS property search can be found through Lucas County’s official website and is completely free,” Moline said. She added that the county has no reason to collect money for these public records.
How the scam operates
Scammers have created a look‑alike site that mimics the appearance of the official Lucas County portal. Visitors are prompted to enter personal information and are then asked to pay a fee to receive a property report. Once payment is made, the site either provides a generic document or no information at all, leaving users out of pocket and without the data they sought.
What residents should do
The auditor’s office advises anyone who encounters a request for payment for a property search to:
- Verify the URL – the official site uses the lucascountyoh.gov domain.
- Never provide credit‑card or banking details to an unfamiliar site.
- Report the suspicious URL to the Lucas County Auditor’s Office via email or phone.
By reporting these fraudulent pages, the county can work with law‑enforcement agencies to shut down the scammers and protect other residents.
Protecting the community
Fraudulent online schemes have risen nationwide, targeting seniors and families looking for quick access to public records. The Lucas County Auditor’s proactive warning aligns with the county’s broader commitment to safeguard taxpayers and uphold transparency in government services.
For more information, residents can visit the official Lucas County website, navigate to the “Property Search” section, or contact Auditor Moline’s office directly at (419) 555‑1234.
Stay vigilant, verify sources, and remember: public property data is a right, not a product for sale.
Original reporting: 13abc WTVG Toledo (news) — read the source article.
