Beware of Scams – Land and Unoccupied Properties
May 19, 2025
Seller Impersonation Scams: What You Need to Know
Watch Broker Shelby (Michelle Briggs) Austin’s interview on KCTV 5 regarding this issue!
Seller impersonation scams are occurring nationwide. It is critical to properly verify the identity of anyone claiming to own a property, particularly with land sales and vacant properties, which are frequent targets.
**Join us on the second Tuesday of each month for our Broker Insight session @ 10 am, where we’ll discuss all things Real Estate.
We are seeing a sharp increase in fraudulent activity involving individuals impersonating sellers of vacant land and unoccupied homes—land transactions being the primary target. These scammers use publicly available tax records to pose as owners, providing fake but realistic-looking IDs (driver’s licenses, passports) and pushing for fast, under-priced, cash sales.
Effective immediately, Platinum Realty requires full compliance with the following protocols:
- Verify ownership through a local Title Company of your choosing (not the seller’s), where the seller must appear in person and be properly vetted.
- All closings must be handled by your preferred Title Company*—under no circumstances may you use a Title Company suggested by the seller.
These scams are highly sophisticated, and failure to follow these steps puts you, your clients, and the brokerage at serious risk. There is zero tolerance for bypassing these requirements.
Support, ideas, comradery. The Platinum Professional Network is made up of Platinum agents in your area just like you. Agents who thrive as entrepreneurs, but also know there is strength in numbers. So, share your strikes and gutters while throwing strikes and gutters. Or, soak up other agent’s tips at one of our happy hours. Regardless of the event, you’re bound to make connections and leave with new ideas to your help grow your business.
For families caring for a child with a serious illness, life is turned upside down. Long hospital stays and uncertainty become the new normal. This is especially true for the families caring for critically ill children when even basic necessities like meals can become burdensome. Feeding Families was started with the goal of providing lunch daily to these families, so they can focus on the most important job of all – caring for their sick children.