Vacant Land Fraud Alert

Vacant Land Fraud Alert

Vacant Land Fraud Alert:  So, this may be something that is happening in all locales that deal with vacant land, but here in the Coachella Valley for sure!  The CDAR (Calif. desert assn. of realtors), sent out an alert for agents to be aware that there is alot of fraud happening with a scam concerning vacant land sales.  If you are looking to buy or sell in the Coachella Valley, land ranches or residential, give local agent, Kim Kelly a call at 760-285-3578.

I’ve been involved with two of these land scams recently.  Last quarter of 2025, I was representing a group of sellers, who were not who they appeared to be.  The buyers cancelled in their due diligence period, and their earnest monies were returned by escrow, BUT it could’ve gone very bad.  Then just a couple weeks ago, another vacant land seller who was not the REAL seller.

Apparently, if a vacant piece of land, is owned by a seller of many years, not protected in a trust, or LLC, it is wide open for these scams.  In this last case, the buyers money had been deposited into escrow, when the list agent called to alert me that the notary seal on the grant deed was fraudulent!  Again, it was caught, buyers monies were returned, no harm, no foul.  I do wonder if the true seller ever did show up, or perhaps is dead???

So, buyers, sellers, agents, be aware!  It’s not that easy to tell you are dealing with the real owner, if your seller is out of state or out of the country.  This is a 9.8 acre date farm that I just closed.  I represented the seller, who was REAL!