About ten years ago, someone paid the property taxes on my lake home. It was not me. I notified the county treasurer immediately and then paid them myself. I was properly credited for the payment. I am not sure if it was an error by the county clerk or if someone was trying to claim my property by paying the taxes due (there were no back taxes to be paid).
That is it. If taxes go delinquent somebody can pay like 3 years worth and own the property.