10 Smart Ways Texas Landowners Can Guard Their Deeds From FraudLast updated May 6, 2025 | By Kandi Wood, REALTOR® | Abilene & the Big CountryWhy You Should CareVacant acreage, inherited farm
10 Smart Ways Texas Landowners Can Guard Their Deeds From Fraud
Dated: May 6 2025
Views: 1095
10 Smart Ways Texas Landowners Can Guard Their Deeds From Fraud
Last updated May 6, 2025 | By Kandi Wood, REALTOR® | Abilene & the Big Country
Why You Should Care
Vacant acreage, inherited farm tracts, and out-of-state second-home lots have become prime targets for deed thieves who impersonate owners, record fake documents, and try to sell the land for quick cash. A few preventive steps—most of them free—will make scammers skip your parcel and move on.
What’s Really Happening in Texas: Scam Artists Posing as Sellers
Scammers are increasingly targeting vacant or absentee-owned land across Texas. Here's how the fraud works:
The Play-by-Play of a Seller-Impersonation Scam
| Step | What the scammer does | Why it fools people |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Picks a vulnerable parcel | Uses public tax and deed records to find vacant or absentee-owned land | No on-site owner means no one is watching |
| 2. Pretends to be the owner | Forges IDs and contacts a REALTOR® or lists FSBO, often under market value | Appears legitimate with plausible backstory |
| 3. Pushes for remote closing | Claims to be overseas, wants a quick cash sale via Remote Online Notarization (RON) | RON is legal in Texas, so it doesn't raise flags |
| 4. Collects funds and vanishes | Provides fake wiring instructions for closing, then disappears | The buyer, owner, agent(s), and title company are left cleaning up the mess |
This scam is growing rapidly. According to the Texas Land Title Association (TLTA) and FBI data, fraudulent land sales are now one of the fastest-rising real estate crimes in the state.
The Quick-Action Checklist: 10 Ways to Protect Your Land
| # | Do this | Why it shuts crooks down | How to take the step |
| 1 | Sign up for your county’s Property Fraud Alert service | You’ll get notified if a deed or lien is filed in your name | Taylor County owners can enroll online in minutes |
| 2 | Keep your mailing address current with the Clerk & CAD | So you receive alerts and courtesy notices | Submit an address update form or use a reliable P.O. box |
| 3 | Record (and renew) your Homestead or Ag-Use exemptions | Adds protection and triggers extra paperwork for transfers | Submit forms to your Central Appraisal District (CAD) |
| 4 | Ask your title company for a "Property Monitoring" rider | Monitors your deed across counties, not just locally | Call the underwriter listed on your Owner’s Policy |
| 5 | Require video-verified ID for closings | Ensures the seller is who they say they are | Ask your escrow agent to verify via credential analysis/KBA |
| 6 | Post a “No Trespass / Not For Sale” sign | Deters field scouts from listing or photographing your land | Use a $15 sign with your phone number or Google Voice |
| 7 | Pull your own deed record twice a year | Spot new filings early before damage is done | Most counties allow digital downloads for $1-$5 |
| 8 | Know about the HB 1195 photo-ID rule | Some counties now require photo ID before recording deeds | Expect ID verification and treat resistance as suspicious |
| 9 | Keep LLCs/trusts in good standing | Inactive entities can be hijacked and misused | Use SOSDirect to check and update your entity records |
| 10 | Connect with neighbors | They can spot sketchy listings, signs, or activity before you do | Exchange numbers and agree to check in on each other’s land |
Red Flags Agents and Landowners Should Watch For
Seller says they’re out of the country and only reachable by email or text (or What's App)
Property listed far below market value
Rush for a quick, cash-only closing within 7-14 days
Reluctance to provide photo ID or do a video call
Use of free email accounts or foreign or local area codes (most don't match the location of the property)
What to Do If You Suspect Fraud
Call your county clerk immediately and request a fraud hold on the document.
Contact your title insurance company and ask them to open a fraud investigation.
Report to the FBI at IC3.gov and attach any suspicious emails or documents.
Let your REALTOR® or attorney know, and notify the actual property owner if you're not them.
Alert TREC and TLTA so other professionals can be warned.
Final Thoughts
Texas landowners don’t have to be victims. With a little vigilance and the right tools, you can secure your deed, protect your equity, and keep scammers out of your backyard.
Have questions or want help setting up fraud alerts? Reach out anytime. I’m here to help you keep your land—and your legacy—safe.
Call/text me at (325) 280-0545 or visit KandiWood.REMAXBigCountrySellsTX.com
Stay savvy, neighbors!
Kandi Wood
I'm Kandi Wood, a dedicated real estate professional deeply passionate about helping clients achieve their goals. If you're seeking an agent who combines expertise with an unwavering commitment to ser....
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