Criminals sell your vacant property by impersonating you to realtors and title companies
A criminal finds your vacant parcel in public records, creates fake ID in your name, then contacts a realtor to sell your property. You only discover the fraud when a title company calls to verify your identity — or after closing has already happened.
Also known as: seller impersonation fraud, vacant land title fraud, parcel owner impersonation scam, deed fraud, property title theft
Already happened to you? Do this in the next few minutes
- 1 Call your bank or card's fraud line right now. Use the number on the back of your card — not any number from the message or caller. Ask them to stop or reverse the payment and freeze the account.
- 2 If you paid by gift card, wire, or an app (Zelle, Venmo, Cash App): contact that company immediately and report it as fraud. Acting fast sometimes recovers the money.
- 3 Report to the FBI at ic3.gov and the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov. The sooner, the better.
What to do right now
- 1 Periodically check your county recorder or assessor website for any deeds, liens, or transfers filed in your name that you did not authorize
- 2 Sign up for free property alert notifications — many counties email you whenever a document is filed against your parcel
- 3 If a realtor or title company contacts you about a sale you did not initiate, treat it as fraud immediately and contact your county recorder and a real estate attorney
- 4 Legitimate property closings require in-person or verified live-video identity confirmation — refuse any deal where the 'seller' (i.e., you) cannot appear on camera
- 5 If your property was fraudulently transferred, contact local law enforcement, your county recorder, and a title insurance company — a real estate attorney can file to void the deed
- 6 Report to the FTC at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov and the FBI's IC3 at https://www.ic3.gov.
Red flags
- ⚠ A realtor, title company, or escrow officer contacts you about a property sale you never initiated
- ⚠ The person posing as you only communicates by text, email, or VoIP — they refuse or endlessly delay in-person or video identity verification
- ⚠ The fake 'you' claims illness, travel, or family emergency to avoid meeting anyone face to face
- ⚠ You receive an unexpected wire transfer, check, or notice of sale proceeds for a property you own
- ⚠ A county recorder search shows a new deed, lien, or transfer on your vacant parcel that you did not authorize
Sources
- FBI IC3 PSA260616 — Protect Your Property from Illegal Sales Through Parcel Owner Impersonation (Jun 2026)
- FBI Newark — Fraudsters Are Stealing Land Out from Under Owners
- Title Barrier — Seller Impersonation Fraud: How It Works and Who It Targets
- Landmodo — Land Scams: How to Spot and Avoid Fraud When Buying Vacant Land in 2026