Seller impersonation fraud attempts rise

Criminals posing as property owners are making more attempts to sell land and homes they don’t own, and agents may be the first to notice something isn’t right.

In a 2026 American Land Title Association’s (ALTA) study, 59% of title professionals surveyed said their firms encountered at least one attempt in the previous calendar year, up from 28% in ALTA’s 2024 survey. The share reporting an attempt during the month before each survey rose from 19% to 45%.

ALTA surveyed 245 title insurance professionals across 40 states, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands in spring 2026.

The scam typically begins when someone claiming to own a property contacts an agent about listing it. Using information found in public records, the fraudster may produce fake identification and documents that appear legitimate.

Vacant land was the most frequently identified target, cited by 82% of respondents who rated it at least somewhat common in fraudulent transactions. Vacation homes and rental properties followed at 51% and 48%, respectively.

Properties with absentee owners, no mortgage or a recently deceased owner also appeared frequently.

The FBI said scammers may contact dozens of real estate agents hoping that one solicitation results in a sale. Because vacant property doesn’t have an occupant and cash transactions don’t receive the scrutiny involved with mortgage financing, the deception can be difficult to catch.

“The fake seller will ask for a quick sale, even accepting offers way below market price,” FBI Special Agent Joe Cardosi said.

Warning signs identified by ALTA include:

• A seller who avoids in-person meetings, video calls or phone conversations
• Requests for a mail-away signing or seller-selected notary
• Pressure to complete an all-cash transaction quickly
• A sales price well below market value
• A seller who wants to handle everything electronically

Real estate agents who receive a suspicious listing request can take additional steps to confirm ownership. The FBI recommends requesting more than an identification document, independently verifying phone numbers and contact information, and sending a certified letter to the owner’s address shown on the tax record.

Title professionals are also adding layers of protection. Ninety-four percent of firms surveyed use multiple fraud-detection tools, including identity-verification systems, direct seller contact and multifactor authentication.

Suspected fraud can be reported to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, tips.fbi.gov or the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3.gov.

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