ELIOT, ME — Police are warning residents and real estate professionals about a scam involving vacant land after scammers posed as legitimate property owners.
The Eliot Police Department said scammers have been contacting real estate agents to list vacant parcels of land for sale that the scammers do not actually own.
Once an agent agrees to list the property, the scammer often insists on handling everything remotely, claiming to be out of state or out of the country, police said.
Police said scammers may provide fake identification and forged property documents in an attempt to make the transaction appear legitimate.
Warning signs include sellers who refuse to meet in person or communicate only by email or text, requests to rush the sale or list below market value, sellers who cannot produce valid identification, and property records that don’t match the seller’s name, according to police.
Police are advising residents to verify ownership directly through the county registry or assessor’s office before listing or purchasing property.
Real estate agents should independently confirm the seller’s identity before signing any listing agreement, police said.
