October 2026
A LOTSAR member recently got an email about one of their listings from someone they didn’t know. The sender said they thought they were being scammed and asked whether the property was still for sale. They claimed to own part of it and attached a “document” as an image file to prove it. The member didn’t open the attachment, found no record of the sender at the Register of Deeds, and reported it to us. That was exactly the right response.
Why this is a scam
- It plays on your instinct to help. The sender says they are the victim, so you want to help, and people who are helping let their guard down.
- The attachment is the trap. A “legal document” sent as an image can hide a malicious file, a link or a QR code that leads to a fake login page.
- Real co-owners don’t cold-email agents. Someone with an actual ownership interest goes through an attorney, the title company or the courts.
- It can set up a bigger fraud. A fake ownership claim can be the first step toward disrupting a sale or slipping a fake “owner” into a closing.
If you get one
- Don’t open the attachment, click any links or reply.
- If it names one of your listings, tell your seller and your closing attorney or title company.
- Check the county Register of Deeds if you want to confirm ownership.
- Report it at ic3.gov, and let us know so we can alert other members.
Part of a bigger pattern
The FBI counted more than $275 million in real estate fraud losses in 2025, up from about $173 million in 2024. In June 2026 it also warned that criminals are posing as owners of vacant land to sell parcels they don’t own. Common red flags include sellers who won’t meet in person, pressure to close quickly and unusual wire requests. For five other email scams going around right now, see 5 Email Scams Targeting Real Estate Professionals Right Now.
Resources
- FBI: Alert I-061626-PSA on vacant land seller impersonation
- NAR: Online Real Estate Fraud Climbed to $275M in 2025
- NAR: Consumer Guide: How to Protect Against Real Estate Wire Fraud
- NAR: Cybersecurity Checklist for Real Estate Professionals
- Report a scam at ic3.gov
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