Seller impersonation scams surge in Florida real estate market

Criminals posing as property owners are making increasingly bold attempts to sell land and homes they don't own, and real estate agents across Florida and the nation are being warned to watch for red flags. A new national study found that 59% of title insurance professionals encountered at least one fraudulent seller impersonation attempt in 2025, more than double the 28% who reported the scam in a 2024 survey.

The American Land Title Association surveyed 245 title insurance professionals across 40 states, the District of Columbia and the U. S. Virgin Islands in spring 2026. The results, released by Florida Realtors this week, show the problem is accelerating: the share of title firms reporting an attempted fraud in the month immediately before each survey jumped from 19% to 45% between the two surveys.

What's happening

The scam typically begins when someone claiming to own a property contacts a real estate agent about listing it for sale. Using information harvested from public property records—such as owner names, legal descriptions and tax-roll details—the fraudster produces fake identification and forged documents that can appear legitimate at first glance.

Vacant land was the most frequently identified target, cited by 82% of title professionals who rated it at least somewhat common in fraudulent transactions. Vacation homes and rental properties followed at 51% and 48%, respectively. Properties with absentee owners, no mortgage or a recently deceased owner also appeared frequently in attempted scams.

The FBI said scammers may contact dozens of real estate agents at once, hoping that one solicitation results in a completed sale. Because vacant property doesn't have an occupant who might notice a For Sale sign, and because all-cash transactions don't receive the scrutiny involved with mortgage underwriting, the deception can be difficult to catch before closing.

"The fake seller will ask for a quick sale, even accepting offers way below market price," FBI Special Agent Joe Cardosi said.

Warning signs agents should watch

The American Land Title Association and the FBI have identified a consistent pattern of red flags that should prompt agents and title professionals to take a second look. A seller who avoids in-person meetings, video calls or phone conversations is a key warning sign, as are requests for a mail-away signing or a seller-selected notary rather than the title company's standard closing process.

Pressure to complete an all-cash transaction quickly, a sales price well below market value, and a seller who insists on handling everything electronically round out the list of common warning signs. Scammers often push for speed to limit the window in which their fraud might be discovered.

Real estate agents who receive a suspicious listing request can take additional steps to confirm ownership. The FBI recommends requesting more than just an identification document, independently verifying phone numbers and contact information through sources other than those provided by the purported seller, and sending a certified letter to the owner's address shown on the county tax record. If the real owner responds, the fraud is exposed; if the letter goes unanswered, it may prompt further scrutiny before moving forward.

Impact on Northeast Florida property owners

The types of properties most vulnerable to seller impersonation are common across Northeast Florida's seven-county region. Vacant land parcels dot the suburban and rural fringes of Clay, Nassau, Baker, Putnam and Flagler counties, areas where rapid growth has made raw land a hot commodity and public records are easily accessible online through county property appraiser and clerk of court websites.

Absentee owners are likewise prevalent in the region. Investors and out-of-state buyers have snapped up rental properties across Jacksonville, St. Augustine and the beach communities, while second homes and vacation properties line the Intracoastal Waterway, Amelia Island and the Ponte Vedra to Palm Coast coastline. Properties owned by elderly residents or estates in probate—another frequent target for fraud—are widespread in retirement-heavy St. Johns and Flagler counties.

When a fraudster successfully completes a sale, the true owner may not discover the theft for months or even years, particularly if the property is vacant land held for investment or a vacation home visited infrequently. Untangling the fraud can require legal action, title insurance claims, and in some cases protracted court battles to restore clear ownership. Even when title insurance ultimately makes the buyer whole, the process can tie up the property and impose substantial costs on all parties except the criminal, who has typically vanished with the proceeds.

The scam also poses reputational and potential liability risks for real estate agents and brokerages. An agent who fails to verify a seller's identity and moves forward with a listing could face professional complaints, civil litigation from a defrauded buyer, or regulatory scrutiny. Florida Realtors has urged its members to adopt heightened verification protocols, particularly for high-risk transaction types.

How title companies are responding

Title professionals are adding layers of protection in response to the surge in fraud attempts. Ninety-four percent of firms surveyed by the American Land Title Association reported using multiple fraud-detection tools, including identity-verification systems, direct contact with the seller using independently confirmed phone numbers, and multifactor authentication for electronic document signing.

These measures add time and friction to the closing process, but they are increasingly seen as necessary safeguards in an environment where property records are public, identification documents can be forged with desktop software, and notary stamps can be faked. Title insurers have a direct financial interest in stopping fraud before closing: a successful scam can result in large claims when the true owner emerges and demands that their title be cleared.

In Northeast Florida, the prevalence of all-cash transactions—common in land deals, investor purchases of rental properties, and the region's robust second-home market—means that many sales don't pass through the mortgage-underwriting gauntlet that might catch discrepancies. That puts additional responsibility on agents and title companies to serve as the front line of defense.

What happens next

Suspected fraud can be reported to the FBI at 1-800-CALL-FBI, through the agency's online tip portal at tips. fbi. gov, or via the Internet Crime Complaint Center at IC3. gov. The FBI has urged real estate professionals to report suspicious activity even if a transaction does not proceed to closing, as the intelligence can help the bureau track organized fraud rings operating across state lines.

Florida Realtors and local realtor associations across Northeast Florida are expected to incorporate updated fraud-awareness training into continuing education and professional development programs. Agents who have not encountered a seller impersonation attempt may nonetheless be contacted by a scammer in the future; the FBI's warning that criminals may reach out to dozens of agents at once suggests that the problem is widespread and opportunistic rather than targeted.

Title companies, meanwhile, are likely to continue tightening their verification procedures. Sellers should expect more requests for documentation, direct phone or video contact with closing agents, and possible delays if a transaction presents any of the warning signs identified in the ALTA study. Buyers, particularly those purchasing vacant land or properties with absentee owners, may want to ask their title company what specific fraud-detection steps are being taken before closing.

The broader picture

The rise in seller impersonation fraud is unfolding against the backdrop of Northeast Florida's sustained real estate boom. As growth accelerates along the I-95 corridor from Nassau County through Flagler, the region's mix of vacant land parcels, investor-owned rentals, and coastal vacation properties creates a target-rich environment for scammers who understand that speed and volume can overcome scrutiny. The same public records and digital tools that make real estate markets efficient also arm criminals with the information they need to impersonate owners convincingly.

For buyers, agents and title professionals across the First Coast, the message is clear: verifying a seller's identity is no longer a formality but a critical step in every transaction, particularly when the property is vacant, the owner is out of state, or the deal is moving faster than the market would normally dictate.