Land fraud in the United States: FBI warned of a new wave of fraud
He FBI has raised the alarm about a worrying new type of scam affecting landowners across the country USA. This type of fraud, which involves identity theft to sell real estate, has reportedly seen a 500% increase in the past four years. ABC News.
Lisa Shawreal estate agent in Randolph, New Jerseycontacted by a man who claimed to own a vacant property in the area. “He said he’s owned that parcel for over 25 years, even though he’s never been to Randolph,” Shaw told the news network.
“He told me the real estate market was high and he wanted to get the best price,” the woman added. But what she didn’t know was that she was hanging out with an alleged fraudster connected to an international criminal network.
According to Jim DennehyFBI deputy director for New York, “to think that someone would sell your own property without your knowledge is fooling the system and everyone involved in the transaction,” he said. ABC News.
The situation became complicated when Shaw, with more than twenty years of experience selling real estate, asked the supposed owner for documentation. The man provided instructions England and copies of Canadian driver’s licenses. Although the driver’s licenses looked authentic, the police officer Peel Regional Police of Canada confirmed that these identifications were false.
“Everything seemed fine,” explained the agent, who put the lot up for sale and received about ten offers. However, it turned out that the documents were fraudulent and the rightful owners of the property were the couple who lived there Texas.
The prospective seller accepted an offer of $140,000, divided into two payments. But when the title company tried to send the second payment, there were problems that alerted Shaw and he was able to contact the real owners’ son. “We knew it was identity fraud,” the saleswoman said.
He FBI An investigation into this network of counterfeiters has begun. The original owners, meanwhile, face a complex legal battle to regain ownership of the property. Dennehy assured ABC News that this type of fraud will involve “a great deal of litigation over many months and years.”
Emily Bowdencompany executive Association of real estate agencies of Sussex County, New Jersey, stressed the importance of vigilance. “Vacant land is very easy to steal,” he told the media. He recommends that real estate agents try to meet the sellers in person and verify that the addresses match.
Another agent, Derek Doernbachalso mentioned ABC News which rejected listings of suspect properties after receiving similar Canadian licenses three times. “It definitely has to be the same people, or it’s a dark web ring circulating the same driver’s license,” Doernbach said.
Faced with these rising scams, real estate agencies in various parts USA issue urgent warnings to their members. The main recommendation is to remain vigilant and perform thorough due diligence, especially when dealing with vacant land. “It’s very easy and it’s successful. Nobody knows until later,” Shaw concluded.