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Before You List It, Verify Who’s Selling It.
Good morning, NREB readers.
As always, we’re here to keep real estate professionals informed while cutting out the fluff. Let’s get right into it.
A prospective seller gives you a name that matches county records, knows the parcel details, and wants to move quickly. Before booking photos or uploading the listing, there is still a basic question to answer: are you speaking with the owner or someone authorized to act for them?
In the American Land Title Association’s 2026 survey, 59% of responding firms reported encountering at least one seller-impersonation fraud attempt during 2025. The study surveyed 245 title insurance professionals in spring 2026.
That measures firms encountering an attempt, not the percentage of transactions involving fraud or the number of scams that succeeded.
For agents, the practical concern starts well before someone sends closing instructions. A fraudster may be asking you to market a property the real owner never intended to sell.
Knowing the property is not proof of identity
The FBI’s June warning describes criminals obtaining owner information from public records and other sources, creating fake identification, and approaching agents and title companies as the owner.
County records remain useful for establishing who owns a property. But someone repeating those details back to you has demonstrated knowledge of the records, not necessarily a right to sell.
The missing connection is between the person contacting you and the owner identified in those records. A convincing email signature or an emailed ID image cannot establish that connection on its own.
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The patterns worth noticing
ALTA found that vacant land remained the most common target. Other common targets included properties owned free and clear, properties with absentee owners, and those associated with recently deceased owners.
Behaviors that deserve closer attention include:
Avoiding calls or meetings while insisting on handling everything by email or text.
Pushing for an unusually fast sale, particularly alongside inconsistent property information.
Insisting on a particular notary or resisting the transaction team’s identity-verification process.
A remote seller or a quick closing is not proof of fraud. Plenty of legitimate clients need both. Follow a consistent verification process, and bring unresolved inconsistencies to your broker rather than trying to judge someone by how reassuring they sound.
Verify through a separate route
The strongest practical point in ALTA’s guidance is to contact the owner using information independently obtained and validated. Calling the number in the same questionable email simply brings you back to the same person.
For a new seller relationship, three habits matter:
Check the ownership information independently. Review the relevant public records and involve your broker or title professional when names, ownership arrangements, or signing authority need clarification.
Establish contact beyond the incoming message. ALTA recommends independently verified contact information and mail to addresses found in property and tax records. Work with your broker and settlement team to select appropriate methods for the situation.
Use the approved identity-verification process. Coordinate with the title company or closing attorney early. Let that team manage its approved signing and notary arrangements, and use secure, approved channels for sensitive documents.
These checks work together. A familiar-looking document, a successful phone call, or one matching database result should not erase another unresolved discrepancy.
If something does not add up
Before the listing goes live, pause preparation and involve your broker. If the property is already listed or under contract, promptly alert your broker and settlement provider so they can coordinate the appropriate transaction and legal response.
Preserve the messages, documents, and contact information. NAR recommends reporting suspected seller impersonation to local law enforcement and the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center. If money has already been transferred, contact the sending financial institution immediately as well.
For legitimate clients, explain identity verification as a routine part of protecting their property. It is easier to set that expectation at the beginning than to introduce it under pressure just before closing.
Before you put your name on the listing, make sure the person asking you to sell has been properly verified. Finding a buyer should come after that connection is established.
Sources
American Land Title Association, Seller Impersonation Fraud Study: 2026 survey methodology, reported attempts during the prior calendar year, and common targets.
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center, Protect Your Property from Illegal Sales Through Parcel Owner Impersonation: June 16, 2026 warning describing impersonation tactics and warning signs.
American Land Title Association, Seller Impersonation Fraud in Real Estate: independent contact, identity verification, notary precautions, and reporting guidance.
National Association of REALTORS®, Fake Sellers, Real Risk: “I’m Being Duped”: June 5, 2026 reporting and guidance for suspected seller impersonation.
National Association of REALTORS®, Consumer Guide: Fraud Red Flags: independent verification, escalation, and urgent action after a suspected fraudulent transfer.
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