Real estate fraud is escalating at an alarming rate across the United States, with a 59% surge in reported cases, according to a 2026 study by the American Land Title Association (ALTA). The study found that 59% of surveyed title professionals reported at least one seller impersonation fraud attempt in the previous year, up from 28% in 2024. This sharp increase highlights a growing threat to property owners and investors, prompting prominent real estate and estate protection attorney María Marta Calderón, Esquire, to issue a public preventive alert.
Calderón warns that criminals are increasingly employing sophisticated tactics, such as posing as legitimate property owners to fraudulently sell, transfer, or mortgage properties, and diverting deposits and closing funds. “Among the schemes detected are criminals posing as true property owners to fraudulently sell, transfer, or attempt to mortgage properties, as well as schemes designed to divert deposits and closing funds,” she stated. The attorney emphasized that properties most at risk include vacant land and unoccupied properties, those owned by individuals residing outside Florida or the United States, investment, rental, or vacation properties, fully paid-off properties, and properties belonging to recently deceased individuals.
Criminals often exploit information from public records, forged IDs, and fraudulent documents to impersonate legitimate owners. Fake websites spoofing title companies have also been detected, aimed at diverting real estate transaction funds. These methods make it increasingly difficult for buyers, sellers, and title professionals to verify authenticity, leading to significant financial losses.
In response, Calderón will soon host an exclusive series of educational webinars and conferences designed to equip the community with legal shielding tools against identity theft and wire fraud. These sessions aim to provide property owners with proactive measures to reduce risks and detect suspicious activity related to their assets more quickly. “If you own properties falling into any of these categories, or if you are concerned about this type of fraud and wish to better understand your level of exposure, we are available to guide you, evaluate your specific situation, and analyze the available measures to help protect your real estate,” Calderón added.
The implications of this announcement are significant for property owners, particularly in states like Florida with high volumes of real estate transactions and international investors. As fraudsters become more sophisticated, the need for legal guidance and preventive strategies has never been greater. Calderón’s initiative seeks to empower individuals with knowledge and tools to safeguard their assets, potentially preventing thousands of dollars in losses.
For more information on this alert and upcoming educational events, visit www.calderon-lawfirm.com. Additional resources can be found at www.hispanictarget.com. The original press release was distributed by NOTICIAS NEWSWIRE.
