FBI Warns of Vacant Land Sale Scams: What Texas Landowners and Real Estate Professionals Need to Know
The FBI has issued a public warning about a growing real estate fraud scheme targeting vacant land across the United States.
Unfortunately, this isn’t just happening somewhere else. At Campbell Farm & Ranch, we flagged two separate scam attempts in a single day, both involving individuals posing as landowners seeking to sell property quickly.
These incidents serve as an important reminder that brokers, title companies, attorneys, and landowners must remain vigilant throughout the listing and closing process.
How the Scam Works
According to the FBI, criminals impersonate the owners of vacant land and contact real estate professionals to list the property for sale. Their objective is to complete the transaction and redirect the proceeds from the wire sale before the true owner realizes that the property has been fraudulently listed.
Because vacant land often lacks tenants or regular activity, these properties can become attractive targets for fraudsters.
Red Flags We Encountered
While every transaction is different, several warning signs immediately stood out during the scam attempts we experienced.
Be cautious if a seller:
- Refers to the property by the parcel ID instead of the acreage, ranch name, or county road.
- Pushes for a quick sale with little concern for price or marketing.
- Demonstrates limited knowledge of the property’s improvements, access, neighbors, or history.
- Avoids in-person meetings or refuses to participate in a live video call.
- Wants the sale proceeds wired to an account that raises additional questions.
None of these factors alone proves fraud, but several occurring together should prompt additional verification.
Protecting Yourself
The FBI recommends implementing additional verification procedures before listing vacant land for sale.
Best practices include:
- Independently verifying the seller’s identity.
- Confirming ownership through public records.
- Speaking directly with the owner by phone or video conference through a contact source not provided by the suspected fraudster.
- Asking property-specific questions that only a legitimate owner would likely know.
- Coordinating closely with the title company throughout the transaction.
At Campbell Farm & Ranch, protecting our clients is just as important as marketing their property. Taking a few extra minutes to verify ownership can prevent a devastating financial loss for everyone involved.
Stay Informed
We encourage all landowners, brokers, title companies, attorneys, and other real estate professionals to review the FBI’s Public Service Announcement.
As these scams continue to evolve, awareness remains one of our strongest tools. If you’re a Texas landowner considering selling your property, or if you’re a real estate professional working with rural land transactions, don’t ignore unusual requests or inconsistencies. A careful verification process today can prevent fraud tomorrow.
Campbell Farm & Ranch | (940) 549-7700
Building Texas Legacies One Ranch at a Time