There are lots of offers out there that seem like they are too good to be true. Most of the time they probably are, and that "great deal" often turns out to be a hidden scam.

Recently, John Decker of Wilson & Muir Bank, Big Clifty Branch, was contacted by a customer to whom he recently made a mortgage. "She had received something in the mail," Decker said on Wednesday (Mar. 9), "which she thought was either from the bank or someone affiliated with the bank regarding mortgage life insurance."

According to Decker, the offer had specific information about the couple's (their names were not released) mortgage, so they took it as a legitimate offer from a legitimate company.

"Unfortunately, they wrote a check to them for their product," Decker said.

The couple later contacted Decker after having suspicions about the legitimacy of what they had just purchased.

"Hopefully," Decker said, "we have kept them from suffering any loss other than a stop payment fee on the check that was written."

Decker wants people to know that mortgages are "a matter of public record and therefore anyone can go to the local courthouse and view and take down specific account information.

This information can then be used by scam artists to solicit consumers and at the same time present themselves as a legitimate business who is "acting on behalf of your bank."

Decker also cautions that "this is not just a Wilson & Muir Bank issue."

"All mortgages recorded by any bank, or even any individual," Decker warned, "once recorded with your county clerk's office become a matter of public record."

After contacting Wilson & Muir's Bardstown office regarding the matter, Decker was told that they too have had three or four customers contact them with the same scam.

Decker said that they contacted their local clerk's office in Nelson County and they assured the bank that no one had been given a printout of mortgages, however, "individuals had come in with legal pads and started writing down information."

After contacting the Grayson County Court Clerk's office, Decker was told by staff in the deed room that the same thing had taken place here.

Decker advises "extreme caution" when anyone is the recipient of any solicitation through the mail.

"Like any other scam, consumers should be wary of solicitations they receive and they should contact their local bank or mortgage company to determine the validity of anything they receive in the mail, by phone or over the internet."

Decker explained that it is very easy for those running a scam to copy a bank or company's logo onto a piece of paper stock and pass themselves off as "someone who they are not."

"This whole thing goes along with some of the issues government offices are facing in trying to protect citizens and consumers while also trying to comply with the Kentucky Open Records laws," Decker said.

While there may be legitimate offers of this type out there, consumers should be aware and make sure the offer is valid and legitimate before giving any money or giving out any information, Decker concluded.