A homeowner living out of state thought his undeveloped land in New York was safe until a real estate agent called him with a chilling question: “You don’t sound like the person I’ve been talking to.” Someone had been impersonating him, using a fake driver’s license containing his real personal details, and attempting to list his land for sale. Months later, the situation turned into a full-blown crisis when the homeowner received official notice that his property had been transferred and sold, even though he never authorized it. The deed included a forged signature, and the homeowner was suddenly forced to prove he still owned land he’d held and paid taxes on for decades.
The scam didn’t just harm the homeowner, it also trapped an innocent buyer, who purchased the land through what appeared to be a legitimate listing and unknowingly wired money directly to the criminal. Investigators say the funds were quickly moved out of the country, leaving the buyer out tens of thousands of dollars while the rightful owner waited for the courts to unwind the fraud. The case exposes how easily criminals can exploit identity verification gaps, especially when the target is vacant land owned by someone who doesn’t live nearby, a scenario that’s becoming a growing risk across New York.
This story was first posted on Times of Wayne County
