Vacant land has become an increasingly common target for real estate fraud, and it's worth understanding why, so you can recognize the warning signs whether you're the one selling or someone else's listing looks off.

Why vacant land is a target

Vacant land fraud has climbed sharply in recent years, with the FBI reporting roughly a 500% increase over a four-year span. The reason is straightforward: there's no building to walk through, no tenant to talk to, and often no one checking on the property in person for months or years at a time. Owners who live out of state or inherited land they've never visited are especially common targets, simply because a scammer impersonating them is far less likely to get caught quickly.

Vacant land is the easiest property to steal, because nobody is standing on it.

How the scam usually works

A fraudster typically starts with public county property records, looking for land with no mortgage and an owner who appears absent. They build a false identity using stolen or fabricated ID, list the property (sometimes below market to create urgency), and either forge a deed and notarization or attempt to push a transaction through before anyone verifies who they really are. A common tell is pressure: claims of other offers, deadlines to close by a specific date, or reluctance to slow down and let a title company do its job.

[ Photo: deed paperwork, a title document, or a county recorder's office ]
Ownership records are public, which is exactly what makes them useful to a scammer.

How to protect your own land from this

  • Check your deed and title record with the county at least once a year, more often if you own several parcels or land you don't visit regularly.
  • Sign up for a fraud alert service if your county offers one. Many will notify you the moment any document is recorded against your property.
  • Watch for property tax bills that stop arriving as expected. That can be a sign someone has redirected your mail or filing address.
  • Treat any unexpected inquiry about "your" land as a reason to double-check, especially if it's land you don't remember listing, or already sold.
[ Photo: a quiet vacant lot, ideally with a for-sale sign ]
Absentee-owned vacant lots are the most common target.

How to protect yourself when you're the one selling

A legitimate closing always runs through a licensed title company or real estate attorney, someone who verifies ownership against the public record and issues title insurance. That step is what protects everyone in the transaction, including you. Be cautious of any buyer who wants to skip it, pushes to wire funds outside of escrow, or is unwilling to verify their own identity with the same rigor they're asking of you.