BIC TIP #1262: Vacant Land Scams Are Getting Good

Scam you. Man, they are getting good. In this BIC TIP, Stephen Long shares a recent real-world example of a vacant land scam that nearly fooled a fellow agent, and repeats his favorite rule for land listings: treat vacant land as a scam until it is not.

The Documents Looked Bonafide

One of Stephen’s agent friends recently ran into this exact scenario. The “seller” provided a copy of a driver’s license. Everything looked legitimate, and it was very hard to vet.

Stephen even ran the license image through an AI tool to see whether it could detect a fake or an artificially generated document. The tool could not tell either. That should get every listing agent’s attention.

Fake IDs, Fake Deeds, Real Damage

Scammers are now producing convincing false documentation, including driver’s licenses and even false deeds. The classic pattern targets vacant land because there is no occupant to notice a sign in the yard, and the true owner may live far away.

If a fraudster successfully impersonates the owner, a real buyer can lose real money, the true owner can be harmed, and the agents involved can find themselves in a very uncomfortable conversation.

Why Your Eyes Are Not Enough

The old approach of “it looks real to me” no longer works. If a document can fool an AI tool, it can fool a busy agent at the end of a long day.

That means verification has to go beyond looking at a copy of an ID. Slow down, ask questions, compare information against public records, and lean on your broker-in-charge and the closing attorney when something feels off. Many attorneys and title professionals have their own seller verification steps, so loop them in early.

The Practical Takeaway

Be very careful when listing vacant land. Start from a position of healthy suspicion, and make the seller prove they are who they say they are before you invest time, marketing, and your reputation.

Remember the rule: treat vacant land listings as a scam until they are not. If anything does not add up, pause and talk to your broker-in-charge before moving forward.

This BIC Tip is general real estate education for licensees and consumers, not legal, tax, or financial advice. Rules and forms change, so verify current NCREC rules, MLS rules, and standard forms, and consult a North Carolina attorney or qualified professional about your specific situation. See Disclaimers & Disclosures.