In the world of real estate, we’ve always been on the lookout for scams, but lately, there’s been a serious uptick in a specific — and very costly — scheme: land fraud.
Our area has been hit especially hard by fraudsters targeting vacant land and absentee owners. Criminals are forging documents, creating fake IDs, and attempting to pose as the rightful landowners to illegally sell properties they don’t own. As a Realtor, I’ve seen this firsthand — and I can tell you, it’s a growing problem that’s affecting both individual property owners and the integrity of our entire market.
These scams often start with out-of-state or vacant land parcels, where there are no homes or active occupants. Scammers identify properties through public records, assume the identity of the owner using fake IDs, and then list the property for sale — usually at a price designed to attract quick, unsuspecting buyers.
Our Policy at Sandpoint Realty When getting a new listing.
I ask for a copy of their drivers licence and I explain to the owners that we require it up front to protect property owners from Fraud.
I call their number not the one they are calling from. (often found in our search resources)
Visit the property Mark had one that the fraudster thought it was vacant land and no idea there was a house being built on it.
I may talk to the neighbors. (I found one that let me know the real owner had been in a nursing home for 2 years)
In several cases, sharp eyes and strong due diligence have allowed myself and others in the real estate community to spot the red flags early: misspelled names, strange email addresses, bad phone connections, not knowing the physical state of the property, suspicious behavior during contract signing, and rushed timelines. When we catch these cases, we immediately turn them over to law enforcement — including the Sheriff’s office, the FBI, the Attorney General, and the DMV.
It’s alarming how sophisticated some of these scams have become, and it's a reminder of why trusted, experienced professionals matter in every transaction.
If you or someone you know suspects land fraud, here are the right places to report it:
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://www.ic3.gov
or FBI Fraud Report https://tips.fbi.gov/home
Idaho Attorney General Consumer Protection Division:
https://www.ag.idaho.gov/office-resources/consumer-protection/
Local Sheriff’s Office: Contact your local department — they are often the first line of defense. 208 265-5525
State DMV: For reporting forged IDs and identity theft. (often out of state licences)
FTC (Federal Trade Commission): https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
You can also read more about the FBI’s national alert on this type of fraud here:
👉 FBI Warns of Rising Land Theft Scams Targeting Vacant Properties
As always, knowledge is the best defense. If you own vacant land or know someone who does, make sure your contact information is updated with the county assessor’s office, and consider placing monitoring alerts on your property records. Call up your favorite realtor and have them place an automatic alert to you if your property is ever listed.
I’ll continue to do my part — working with buyers, sellers, and local authorities — to stop these scams in their tracks.
Experience the Difference.
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