Beware of Vacant Land Scam
MLSListings reminds you to stay alert for an active real estate scam related to vacant lots and land parcels which first surfaced as a nationwide scam earlier this year, and recently reoccurred twice here in our local market.
The scam typically involves vacant land that is owned outright. A fraudster locates a property through public records, impersonates the owner, and lists the property for sale for a price well below market value.
Because there’s often not a home or building on the property, the scammers usually present themselves as out of state. Communication is typically exclusively via email or text and the scammers push for a quick close.
Be aware of the following red flags, click the image for a PDF Version :
If you have a listing with any of these characteristics, please check with your broker for a course of action:
- Seller will not meet with you or provide proof of identity
- Property is priced well below market value
- Needs immediate sale
- Knows very little about the property, community or can answer questions
Contact the district attorney’s office for the county in which the property was located and file a report.
Below is contact information for your county’s district attorney’s office, according to the Deputy District Attorney for Santa Cruz, they do work with other counties and can build cases based on evidence submitted in each.
San Benito County District Attorney’s Office
419 4th St. Hollister, CA 95023-3801
https://www.cosb.us/departments/district-attorney
E-Mail: DA@cosb.us
Office Main Line: 831-636-4120
Office Fax Line: 831-636-4126
San Mateo County District Attorney’s Office
400 County Center
3rd Floor
Redwood City, CA 94063
https://www.smcgov.org/da
e-mail: da_info@smcgov.org
Office: (650) 363-4636
Santa Clara County District Attorney’s Office
Real Estate Fraud Unit
70 West Hedding Street, West Wing
San Jose, CA 95110
https://countyda.sccgov.org/prosecution/departments/real-estate-fraud-unit
Email: realestatefraud@dao.sccgov.org
Phone: (408) 792-2879
Santa Cruz County District Attorney’s Office
701 Ocean Street, Rm. 200
Santa Cruz, CA 95060
https://www.santacruzdistrictattorney.us/Home/DAsOffice/Contactus.aspx
E-mail: dao@santacruzcountyca.gov
Telephone: (831) 454-2400
Monterey County District Attorney’s Office
Salinas Office
142 W. Alisal Street, Suite A, Salinas, California 93901
https://www.co.monterey.ca.us/government/departments-a-h/district-attorney/
Monterey Office
1200 Aguajito Rd. Room 301, Monterey, California 93940
Phone: (831) 755-5070
Fax: (831) 755-5068
Email: publicinformation@co.monterey.ca.us
###