The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office is investigating a sophisticated real estate scam in which fraudsters impersonate property owners to list and sell homes that do not belong to them.
According to authorities, local real estate brokers have been contacted by individuals posing as property owners who request their properties be listed for sale. These scammers provide what appear to be legitimate ownership documents, electronically signed, convincing brokers to enter into sales agreements. However, in multiple cases, vigilant neighbors have alerted the actual property owners before fraudulent transactions could be completed.
Investigators have identified a pattern in which scammers target properties owned by out-of-state residents, particularly those with secondary homes or vacant land in the region. The Seneca County Sheriff’s Office is collaborating with other law enforcement agencies to track down the suspects behind these fraudulent schemes.
Officials urge anyone who believes they may have been a victim of this scam to contact the Sheriff’s Office Criminal Investigation Division at 315-220-3240.
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