Logo courtesy of Butte County

BUTTE COUNTY, CA (MPG) - The Butte County District Attorney’s Office is warning the public about a recent surge in land impersonation scams involving vacant parcels and properties owned by absentee landlords. These schemes, sometimes called “land pirate” scams, involve criminals pretending to be legitimate property owners and trying to sell land they do not own.

Butte County District Attorney Mike Ramsey stated that over the past several months, his investigators have documented multiple cases where scammers contacted real estate agents, title companies and potential buyers by impersonating legitimate owners of vacant rural property, inherited land, or parcels owned by out-of-area owners. In many cases, the scammers used fake identification, fraudulent notarizations, and temporary phone numbers or email accounts to carry out their schemes.

Both legitimate landowners and buyers are targeted in these scams. Landowners may suddenly lose their parcels and face costly court battles to restore their titles. Eager buyers might discover they have handed their money to fraudulent “sellers,” and, unless they used a title company with title insurance, they may have no way to get their money back from scammers who are often overseas or untraceable.

“This type of fraud is becoming more sophisticated and more frequent,” said Ramsey. “Criminals are specifically targeting parcels that appear unattended or rarely visited, and they often price the land below market value to encourage a quick cash sale. Public awareness is our best defense. If something feels off during a land transaction, it’s critical to slow down and verify. These scammers rely on speed and anonymity.”

Common Red Flags noted in recent cases are: The “seller” claims to be out of the country or unable to meet in person. Communication is limited to text or email. Below-market pricing designed to attract quick offers. Refusal to complete video verification of identity. The use of rush tactics, including demanding same-day signatures. Inconsistencies between the “seller’s” ID and public record ownership information. Requests for sale proceeds to be wired to out-of-state or foreign accounts.

Who is at risk most?

Owners of vacant land, owners living out of the county or out of state, recently inherited property and parcels without active development or regular visits.

Ramsey recommends the following precautions for land owners: Monitor your property records periodically for unauthorized activity. Ensure your contact information is current with the County Assessor. Butte County Assessor: https://www.buttecounty.net/222/Assessor. Ask neighbors or nearby property owners to notify you of suspicious activity on the land. If you receive notice that your property is listed for sale and you did not authorize it, contact law enforcement immediately.

For land buyers: Use only known, trusted notaries and/or licensed real estate agents when conducting land transactions. Consider creating and maintaining a personal or organizational “trusted notary list.” Only use real estate professionals who will verify “seller” identity through multiple channels – including notarized ID, video confirmation, and direct contact with the owner’s verified address.

Anyone who believes they may have encountered a fraudulent real-estate listing or has information regarding these scams in Butte County is urged to contact: Butte County District Attorney’s Office 1-(866) DAFraud (1-866-323-7283), [email protected] or https://www.buttecounty.net/343/Investigations-Bureau. In other counties, contact your local police agency or district attorney’s office.