TOPEKA, Kan. (RFD News) — Concerns surrounding farmland real estate fraud in the ag sector continue to grow as scammers increasingly target rural landowners across the country.
RFD News farm legal expert Roger McEowen, with Kansas’ Washburn School of Law, joined us on Wednesday’s Market Day Report to break down why agricultural property has become a growing target for criminals.
According to McEowen, fraudsters are impersonating landowners and attempting to sell agricultural property they do not actually own, creating major financial and legal risks for farmers and families.
In his interview with RFD News, McEowen explained some of the unique opportunities rural land transactions can create for scammers and shared real-world examples highlighting the risks involved. He also outlined common warning signs and red flags that landowners, buyers, and attorneys should watch for as these schemes continue to appear more frequently across rural America.
McEowen joined us on Monday’s Market Day Report to take a broader look at the growing issue and additionally some of the consequences fraudulent land sales could create for property owners.
In his conversation with RFD News, McEowen addressed the challenges real estate agents face when it comes to fraudulent land sales and the potential impact these scams could have on the broader land market.
The discussion focused on what can happen if a fraudulent land sale goes through, along with steps landowners can take to better protect themselves, especially if they do not live near the property they own.
McEowen also talked about how increasingly sophisticated technology, including forged deeds and fake lease agreements, could make farmland fraud schemes even more difficult to detect moving forward.
READ MORE: Title Fraud Crisis Escalating in Farmland Real Estate — Firm to Farm
