Covington County residents who have property transactions recorded in the probate office are being targeted with “very official looking” letters that make it appear they need to spend $83 more.

“What happens is that this company in Sioux Falls, S.D., notes every deed that’s filed, and sends a letter to the grantee of that deed at the grantee’s address,” local attorney Patrick McCalman said.

The letter appears to be a “deed processing notice” and recommends that “all Alabama homeowners obtain a copy of their current Grant Deed.” It also includes information about the person’s property, and provides a compliance date.

The company offers the copy for $83.

“It’s made to look very official, like something you need to do,” McCalman said. “A copy of this deed will cost you $1 at the courthouse, and 99.9 percent of the time, you walked out of the property closing with a copy.”

McCalman explained that the company is able to do this because the records are all available online through a subscription service.

“This is selling snow to Eskimos,” he said. “It’s just a trick.”

Property owners can get copies of their deeds from the probate office.