Protect Your Property from Illegal Sales Through Parcel Owner Impersonation

How it works

Criminals research public property records to identify homes and owners. They then contact potential buyers or title companies, posing as the legitimate property owner. They offer the property for sale at below-market prices to create urgency. Once a buyer is found, the scammer provides forged documents and collects down payments or wire transfers before disappearing.

Red flags to watch for

• Property listed for sale by someone who does not appear in public records
• Seller pressures you to close quickly or use wire transfer only
• Seller avoids meeting in person or insists on communicating by email only
• Title company receives documents that do not match the actual owner
• Closing happens with minimal verification of seller identity
• Price is significantly below market value for the area

What to do

Always verify the seller's identity by contacting the title company and requesting a title search before any money changes hands. Do not rely solely on documents emailed by the seller. Contact the property owner directly using contact information from public records or a real estate agent. If you are a title company, implement identity verification procedures and report suspicious transactions to law enforcement immediately.