STEUBEN COUNTY, N.Y. (WENY) -- Steuben County announced on Tuesday, Feb. 26th that the county has launched a new tool to help property owners protect themselves from fraud. People who own property in Steuben County can now sign up for an online fraud alert service. 

"When a deed or a mortgage is recorded in the county clerk's office, if individuals wish to sign up for this fraud alert, they would receive this email indicating that a document had been filed in their name and hopefully, it's a valid one. If not, it would be a notice and red flag for them," said Judith Miller, Steuben County Clerk. 

Miller said fraud is on the rise, and this new tool can help give people peace of mind to ensure no fraudulent documents are filed in their name. The service is provided by Search IQS. It's free to sign up, you just need an email address and your name. 

The service is already available in multiple counties across New York, including Broome and Yates Counties. You can find a link to sign up by visiting this link.