Sheriff’s Office: Beware of scammers selling land they don’t own

EL PASO, Texas ( KTSM ) — The El Paso County Sheriff’s Office says it is getting complaints about and has seen an increase in fraudulent selling of land.

The scammers are focusing on vacant lots that they don’t own, putting them up for sale and then selling the land to unsuspecting victims, causing victims significant financial losses, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Scammers are using different tactics to avoid detection such as:

• They target “unencumbered” property, vacant land with no signs, often on unimproved or unincorporated areas of the County.
• They “sell” estate properties where ownership has not been transferred to heirs and are still under the name of recently deceased.
• Scammers will push for quick sales and attempt to sell the land with an under-market price.
• Seller might avoid meeting in person and often use burner phones or use phone applications that allows them to use a temporary number, or will attempt to make all communication through applications such as WhatsApp or something similar.
• They will insist in using their chosen e-notary or arranging notarizations themselves and refuse in-person signings. They will often use an excuse that they are out of town, don’t reside in El Paso anymore and are just trying to get rid of the property or similar reasons to avoid meeting in person.
• They will demand cash transactions and direct sales to individuals not listed on property title or deed.

“We recommend everyone interested in buying land to investigate the property and confirm ownership before entering agreements. We also recommend using broker, listing agent or other professional guidance to ensure the sale is legitimate. Don’t fall victim to these types of scams. Do your research before before it’s too late. We encourage the public to report any suspicious activity,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

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