Attempted title fraud on property we own

[Anonymous]

In developing countries, people will put up a big sign that says “this land is not for sale”. Wouldn’t hurt!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How tf did he have your husband’s drivers license number??

This. I would contact the police. I'd also review and freeze your credit report and look for other fraud involving his DL number.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tf did he have your husband’s drivers license number??

This. I would contact the police. I'd also review and freeze your credit report and look for other fraud involving his DL number.

there are so many data breaches now that I just assume all of my personal details are out there. Most credit card companies offer credit monitoring for free.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How tf did he have your husband’s drivers license number??

Op here. That part is especially disturbing. We have filed a police report and also have an alert set up with the county registrar of deeds.

I got an email today from a second realtor who found me through social media and asked if we were truly selling the lot. So apparently this person is actively shopping it around. I’ve thought about claiming the Zillow listing and adding a note that the property is not for sale, so at least that would come up if someone did a Google search.

Unfortunately the property is a 10 hr drive away. We might just go up there this summer and try adding a “not for sale” sign on the property - I like that idea! The whole thing is upsetting though. Especially for dh, given that the guy has faked up an ID with DH’s name on it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Real estate attorney here. Literally at no point was your title ever at risk. A forged deed is a legal nullity.

Well, yeah, the forged deed isn’t worth the paper it is printed on. But did you see the pp about a developer literally building a house on property under similar circumstances? The legal technicality you cite doesn’t prevent serious problems. That owner has had to file suit, and I’m sure the fraudster is nowhere to be found—so they won’t be getting any money from them for the attorney fees or for dealing with the half of a house on their property.

A title is not a “legal technicality”. It’s the whole ball game. Yes, you have to sue. And yes the defrauded buyer’s title insurance will be invoked, if there is no title insurance the defrauded buyer will be responsible for costs themselves.

It’s a good reminder to buyer owners title insurance!

PP. Yeah, I know what a title is -- I've litigated against title insurance companies. Which is why I know how complicated things can get. You were going on about "Literally at not point was your title ever at risk" -- lobbing a condescending attitude at the OP. My point, which you don't seem to get, is that there can be really big problems with this kind of situation that have nothing to do with a fight over title. Like ... dealing with the fact that your land now has half a house on it when you were fixin' to build yours.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tf did he have your husband’s drivers license number??

Op here. That part is especially disturbing. We have filed a police report and also have an alert set up with the county registrar of deeds.

I got an email today from a second realtor who found me through social media and asked if we were truly selling the lot. So apparently this person is actively shopping it around. I’ve thought about claiming the Zillow listing and adding a note that the property is not for sale, so at least that would come up if someone did a Google search.

Unfortunately the property is a 10 hr drive away. We might just go up there this summer and try adding a “not for sale” sign on the property - I like that idea! The whole thing is upsetting though. Especially for dh, given that the guy has faked up an ID with DH’s name on it.

You don't need to drive up there. I'm sure you could find someone on Fiver or something to do that for you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tf did he have your husband’s drivers license number??

Op here. That part is especially disturbing. We have filed a police report and also have an alert set up with the county registrar of deeds.

I got an email today from a second realtor who found me through social media and asked if we were truly selling the lot. So apparently this person is actively shopping it around. I’ve thought about claiming the Zillow listing and adding a note that the property is not for sale, so at least that would come up if someone did a Google search.

Unfortunately the property is a 10 hr drive away. We might just go up there this summer and try adding a “not for sale” sign on the property - I like that idea! The whole thing is upsetting though. Especially for dh, given that the guy has faked up an ID with DH’s name on it.

In addition you should freeze your credit for any new credit by contacting the credit rating agencies and start monitoring it for any new activities.

[Anonymous]

Op here. Apparently the guy found an agent to take the listing and it’s now active on the MLS. I’ve left the agent a message and called the brokerage. Now I’m really pissed off.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Apparently the guy found an agent to take the listing and it’s now active on the MLS. I’ve left the agent a message and called the brokerage. Now I’m really pissed off.

OMG. What on earth?!

Update us on what the agent/brokerage has to say.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Op here. Apparently the guy found an agent to take the listing and it’s now active on the MLS. I’ve left the agent a message and called the brokerage. Now I’m really pissed off.

I think this person is easy to find by police.
Call and talk to theme.

[Anonymous]

The police could give him an offer to buy and find him.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Real estate attorney here. Literally at no point was your title ever at risk. A forged deed is a legal nullity.

You’re being blindly obtuse. The amount of time and headache it would require to get your land back from the scammer is astronomical.

It’s much better to be proactive, then to rely on winning a fraud case later.

[Anonymous]

Is there some reason you haven't claimed the zillow listing?
I agree that at this point the police could use the new listing realtor to find the guy. But going forward I wonder if you could also pay a realtor a small amount to hold the MLS listing for that address - maybe a realtor can comment on how that works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tf did he have your husband’s drivers license number??

Op here. That part is especially disturbing. We have filed a police report and also have an alert set up with the county registrar of deeds.

I got an email today from a second realtor who found me through social media and asked if we were truly selling the lot. So apparently this person is actively shopping it around. I’ve thought about claiming the Zillow listing and adding a note that the property is not for sale, so at least that would come up if someone did a Google search.

Unfortunately the property is a 10 hr drive away. We might just go up there this summer and try adding a “not for sale” sign on the property - I like that idea! The whole thing is upsetting though. Especially for dh, given that the guy has faked up an ID with DH’s name on it.

You don't need to drive up there. I'm sure you could find someone on Fiver or something to do that for you.

+1, and also if this was me I'd get my butt in the car and drive up there. I don't know why OP is being so passive, assuming this is real.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:How tf did he have your husband’s drivers license number??

Op here. That part is especially disturbing. We have filed a police report and also have an alert set up with the county registrar of deeds.

I got an email today from a second realtor who found me through social media and asked if we were truly selling the lot. So apparently this person is actively shopping it around. I’ve thought about claiming the Zillow listing and adding a note that the property is not for sale, so at least that would come up if someone did a Google search.

Unfortunately the property is a 10 hr drive away. We might just go up there this summer and try adding a “not for sale” sign on the property - I like that idea! The whole thing is upsetting though. Especially for dh, given that the guy has faked up an ID with DH’s name on it.

You don't need to drive up there. I'm sure you could find someone on Fiver or something to do that for you.

+1, and also if this was me I'd get my butt in the car and drive up there. I don't know why OP is being so passive, assuming this is real.

Agree - they should drive there with proof of ownership and talk to police and all other necessary parties.

Plus, call the broker of the office where the real estate agent is and the state licensing board. The listing needs to be taken down immediately.