Scammers have been impersonating the owners of vacant lots in Oakland and other unforeseen places, trying to sell properties they don't own. The Alameda County District Attorney's Real Estate Fraud Unit is sounding the alarm after a fraudulent sale of an Oakland lot was nearly completed.
The fraud came to light when a resourceful escrow officer decided to more thoroughly investigate the listed owners of a $1.1 million Oakland lot on sale for just $560,000. What they uncovered was a scheme where a fraudster claimed to be a terminally ill property owner, desperate to sell to spare his wife quickly. In this case, all dealings were conducted over the phone and email to avoid face-to-face meetings. The unit's swift action disrupted the fraudulent sale just eleven days before escrow was set to close, preventing further damage.
According to an official warning by Alameda County District Attorney Pamela Price, this isn't an isolated incident. Her office has discovered similar schemes targeting unsuspecting buyers and real estate professionals in other states. This has led to general caution regarding purchasing undeveloped properties without adequate verification.
"If you own vacant land in Alameda County, please be aware of this scam and keep an eye on the title of your property," warned District Attorney Pamela Price. She also provided a simple self-check method for property owners: type your property’s street address into a real estate website or search engine to confirm no unauthorized active listings are presented. If an unwanted surprise does pop up, owners are instructed to directly contact the listing agent to rectify the issue and swiftly contact the Real Estate Fraud Unit of her office.
The District Attorney’s Office has provided resources for the public to better understand and respond to this emerging threat. Those suspecting foul play or wishing to file a claim are encouraged to either visit the Real Estate Fraud Unit webpage or to call 510 383-8600 for a complaint form.
