How to Stay Ahead
How common is vacant land title fraud? More than you might think.
In 2023, the FBI logged over 900,000 complaints related to real estate crimes. Among those, more than 9,500 cases were title fraud, according to the FBI Internet Crime Report. That’s not just a statistic—it’s a wake-up call.
At Counsellors Title Agency, we’re seeing a growing trend across New Jersey, particularly in Ocean County, where vacant land scams have surged by 37%. These scams don’t target just anyone—they focus on out-of-state owners, unwatched lots, and undersupervised transactions, and they’re becoming more sophisticated thanks to new technologies like AI.
The New Breed of Scammer
Title fraudsters aren’t working out of the back of a van. They’re forging deeds, faking IDs, and impersonating sellers—often with documents that look perfectly legitimate. In one 2018 case, a fraudster forged a warranty deed and posed as a seller until his unwillingness to meet the actual property owner raised red flags.
Sadly, some experts estimate that 5% to 7% of all real estate deals now show signs of fraud that can be prevented with proper diligence.
At Counsellors Title, our process includes proactive fraud prevention steps like:
- Sending verification letters to property owners’ registered mailing addresses
- Reverse phone lookups to confirm seller identity
- Notary vetting, ensuring only legitimate, verified professionals handle sensitive documents
Red Flags to Watch for in Vacant Land Title Scams
As a real estate professional, here are six signs a seller—or their representative—might not be legitimate:
- No face-to-face meetings and refusal to tour the property
- Unlicensed or out-of-state agents posing as local reps
- “Too good to be true” pricing or excessive urgency
- Inability to answer basic property questions
- Pushy deadlines designed to skip due diligence
- Insisting on using their own notary over the title company’s
These are all tactics designed to bypass safeguards and rush a fraudulent deal through.
What You Can Do Today
Vigilance isn’t optional anymore—it’s essential.
Whether you’re an agent, attorney, buyer, or landowner, protecting your stake begins with working with professionals who know how to spot and stop fraud before it becomes a nightmare.
Counsellors Title Agency has served New Jersey for more than 25 years with an unwavering commitment to secure, verified closings. If you’re concerned about the vulnerability of a vacant lot or want a second set of eyes on a deal, reach out now.
Call us at 732-914-1400
Visit counsellorstitle.net
Let’s keep title fraud off your land and out of your deals.