GRAHAM COUNTY — A fraud warned about by the FBI in May is making its way to the Gila Valley.
A property on Welker Road, between Lonestar and Solomon roads, was listed for sale at $800,000 for 80 acres, about half the value of the property.
On Tuesday, Leslie Campos, an associate broker with Tierra Antigua Realty questioned the listing and reported it to Graham County Sheriff’s Office. Deputies spoke with the listing agent from a different Realty firm, who said she didn’t realize it was a scam because the person claiming to be the property owner had what seemed like reliable information. However, it turned out the name the scammer used did not match that of the actual owner.
The listing was taken down and the true property owner was not harmed.
The scam involves vacant or farm land in rural areas. A caller reaches out to a Realtor for a listing to sell, usually at a reduced price. The caller requests an all-cash sale and quick closing. Things move so swiftly, the real property owner often doesn’t realize the property has been sold out from under them.
The FBI said Realty agents are often unaware because the scammers are knowledgeable about the process of selling land. To avoid being a victim, the FBI recommends these tips for landowners:
- Set up title alerts with the county clerk’s office, they will e-mail if something comes up. (Not all counties offer this service.)
- Set up online search alerts for your property.
- Drive by the property or have a management company spot-check it.
- Befriend the members of the community or neighbors to warn you if they see anything suspicious.
- Pay taxes through escrow.
- Ask the local police department if they offer checks, alerts, etc.
For the Realty industry, the FBI recommends:
- Avoid remote closings, if at all possible.
- Ask for in-person identity checks. If this is not possible, ask for other video proof of life.
- Ask for a copy of the most recent tax bill or other piece of mail, in addition to an ID.
- Look up the phone number by reverse search or through the phone carrier. Watch for international VOIP.
- Check the email addresses and names. Fraudsters have been known to recycle them.
- Pay attention to the age of the seller, accents, excuses.
- Send a certified letter to the address of record on the tax bill.
- Call verifying public notary to confirm they attested to the documents.
- Spread the word in your professional network to help your colleagues avoid falling for the same scam.
