All Forum Posts by: Justin Packee

Well the money is long gone at this point so hopefully the buyer purchased an owners title insurance policy... if so the buyer needs to be notified of the fraud and the title claim needs to be made. At least that way the buyer can be made whole and the property can be returned to its rightful owner. 

But that won't be the end of it. It will be interesting to hear who is ultimately responsible. Most insurers have published guidance on vacant land sales which include USPS mailing to the seller's address of record to obtain confirmation that the land is in fact being sold. Perhaps there is a listing broker involved who would have some duty to investigate and if that was lacking perhaps he/she shares in liability. Some title insurers also recommend having the seller sign via RON which includes additional identity verification beyond producing an ID. If the title company did not take these steps or even worse allowed the proceeds to be assigned and/or wired to a different account, their E&O carrier could be the party that ultimately bears the loss.

@Justin Packee

Did this close with a title company? You can also contact them and notify them.

This is more common and typically the agents in some of the cases never proved ownership or confirmed who they were dealing with which puts their licenses at risk

We use Erin Quinn at of Georgia who practices in Florida

(Quinn legal) or

Harris Howard law