In California, real estate professionals are warning about a fast-moving scam targeting vacant land in Pacific Palisades and Altadena, where criminals impersonate homeowners and attempt to sell lots they do not own. After the catastrophic early 2025 wildfires, the two communities are still facing a slow, difficult recovery, with the Palisades and Eaton fires destroying more than 16,000 structures. That rebuilding landscape has created large pockets of unattended property, which investigators say is exactly what fraudsters are hunting. Realtors report suspects contact agents posing as absentee or elderly owners, pushing to list land below market value to trigger immediate offers.
According to industry warnings, the suspect typically refuses in-person meetings, avoids video calls, and insists on handling paperwork remotely. They demand fast closings, request cash buyers, and try to control the notary process to push forged documents through. Agents say the goal is speed: once funds are wired, the criminal disappears. In several recent attempts, realtors caught the scheme just in time, but officials say many cases go undetected until after the money is gone.
The California Department of Real Estate has issued statewide alerts to agents as the pattern spreads. Experts warn that vacant parcels owned by out-of-area homeowners are especially vulnerable because no one is physically watching the land. Once a fraudulent listing slips through, the real homeowner may not discover it until title problems surface, creating a legal fight to unwind the sale. Investigators say the scam thrives on urgency, impersonation, and the assumption that empty land is invisible.
This story was first posted on circlingthenews.com
