Could Someone Try to Sell Your Property Without You Knowing?
Unfortunately, it’s a real estate scam that homeowners need to be aware of—and new research shows attempts are becoming much more common.
According to a 2026 study from the American Land Title Association (ALTA), 59% of title firms surveyed reported encountering at least one seller impersonation fraud attempt during the previous calendar year. That’s more than double the 28% reported in ALTA’s 2024 study.
As a Realtor®, part of my job is helping my clients understand not only how to buy and sell real estate, but also how to protect what they already own.
What Is Seller Impersonation Fraud?
Seller impersonation fraud happens when a criminal pretends to be the legitimate owner of a property and attempts to sell it without the real owner’s knowledge or permission.
Scammers may gather information about an owner through public property records, stolen personal information and other sources. They can then create fake identification, email addresses and phone numbers and contact real estate and title professionals while pretending to be the owner.
In some cases, the actual property owner may not realize anything is happening until the property is already under contract—or worse.
Which Properties May Be More Vulnerable?
Vacant land continues to be the most commonly reported target. However, scammers aren’t limiting themselves to vacant property.
Title professionals also report seeing attempts involving:
Properties owned by someone who doesn't live there
Homes or land owned free and clear without a mortgage
Rental and vacation properties
Agricultural land
Properties connected with recently deceased owners
And, increasingly, primary residences
That last one is important. This isn't something homeowners should assume only happens to vacant landowners.
Technology Is Making the Scam More Sophisticated
Another concerning development is the amount of personal information criminals may already have.
Fraudsters may use spoofed phone numbers and email addresses along with an owner's birth date, financial information or other identifying details to make themselves appear legitimate.
Artificial intelligence has added another layer. Deepfake images and voices may potentially be used to make an impersonator appear or sound more convincing.
That makes identity verification throughout a real estate transaction more important than ever.
What Can You Do to Protect Your Property?
There are some simple steps homeowners can take to make it harder for suspicious activity to go unnoticed.
Monitor your property records.
Periodically check your county's official property and deed records for activity you don't recognize.
Sign up for property alerts when available.
Some county clerks and recording offices offer notification services that alert property owners when a document is recorded involving their property.
Pay attention to your tax and utility information.
Unexpected changes to mailing addresses, tax records or utility accounts deserve a closer look.
Don't ignore unexpected communication about your property.
If a Realtor®, title company, buyer or other party contacts you about selling property that you haven't listed, investigate immediately.
Be especially watchful with vacant land or property you don't regularly visit.
Because you aren't physically there every day, suspicious activity may be easier to miss.
And remember: an alert service doesn't necessarily prevent fraud. Its value is that it may help you discover suspicious activity sooner.
Your Real Estate Professional Is Part of the Safety Net
This is also a good reminder of why real estate professionals, title companies and closing professionals may ask additional questions or require identity verification during a transaction.
Those extra steps aren't meant to make selling your home difficult. They're there to help protect everyone involved.
The latest ALTA research found that title companies increasingly rely on multiple layers of fraud detection, including identity verification, direct contact with sellers and multifactor authentication.
When something doesn't look or feel right during a transaction, slowinMg down and verifying information is worth it.
A Little Awareness Can Go a Long Way
Most homeowners will hopefully never encounter seller impersonation fraud. But knowing that the scam exists—and understanding a few of the warning signs—can help you better protect one of your largest assets.
Real estate isn't just about buying or selling a house. It's also about helping people protect their homes, their equity and the years of hard work represented by that property.
If you ever receive something unusual concerning your property or aren't sure whether a real estate-related communication is legitimate, reach out to a trusted real estate or title professional before taking action.
Knowledge is one of the best tools we have for protecting our homes—and each other.
Committed to Service. Driven by Heart.
Melissa
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