The vacant land sales scams continue in SC.
SCR provides FOREWARN.
Some MLS systems provide court house information including true owners mailing addresses.
Some local governments provide property and tax records online, and all in person. Tax information and property records can include the true owners mailing addresses.
Detect the fake sellers using alternate and more reliable contact information for the true owners and communicating with the true owners.
Fake sellers can look at the local government property records and create fake backstories (e.g., I need to close fast for cash, so discount heavily, and close in 2 weeks. I am overseas and cannot meet, all through email and phone and wires.), fake identification documents, fake emails that mimic the true owners, fake phone numbers that mimic area codes, and be convincing.
Perhaps you/REALTOR® alert all of your past land buying clients, that they can take steps to help prevent fake sellers and vacant land sales scams. such as: Properly post, NOT FOR SALE signs on site if HOA allows. Tell their HOA and neighbors that their land is not for sale in the near future. Provide good contact information to their HOA and neighbors so they can provide to potential land listing REALTORS®. Put alerts on Zillow and Google for the property address.
Alert the hotline, MLS, associations, HOA, neighbors, law enforcement, FBI, Secret Service, etc.
Social media is a good way to communicate.
Be suspicious of distant land sellers who "fall into your lap" without some sort of connection with you. Too good to be true can be too good to be true.
Let the closing attorneys and buyer side know that you don’t know the distant sellers, and you have never met the distant sellers, and there are vacant land sales scams occurring in the USA. They can protect themselves too.
Posted by: Byron King on 06/15/23 (This information is only accurate as of 06/15/23. You must contact SCR for updates and changes to this information after 06/15/23 as laws and regulations may change over time. SCR 803-772-5206 or email info at screaltors.org or email byron at screaltors.org)
This information is not legal advice. This information is intended only to provide general information and may not be relied upon as specific legal guidance. Legal counsel should always be consulted before acting in reliance on this information.