Real estate scams on the rise in Bartholomew County

Local officials are warning about scammers trying to gain control of your real estate.

According to the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, residents have reported five recent attempts to impersonate real estate sellers. The goal of the title fraud is to illegally transfer ownership of your property or to gain access to funds from another victim by pretending to own your property.

Deputies say that there are warning signs if you are trying to buy a property from one of the scammers, including limited communications through e-mail or text only without in person meetings or video calls. The properties are often listed at well below market value and the scammers may seek a quick, cash-only sale. The sellers may also have a lack of legitimate and credible documentation and may insist on using their own notary.

The Bartholomew County Recorders office offers a free service to track any changes made in your property records. Although it will not stop fraudulent transactions, you will be notified when a document is filed in the recorders office. If you notice fraudulent activity you should contact the recorder’s office immediately.

To contact the recorders office about the property document tracking service, you can call the recorder’s office at 812-379-1520

Authorities say that the scams are sophisticated and complicated to investigate. They can also be staged from overseas, with the first local investigation of the scams being traced to Nigeria.

More tips from the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department:

• Verify identity in person (or via video). Ask your agent whether they’ve met the seller, and if not, schedule a video call where the seller presents a government-issued ID.
• Ask property-specific questions. Inquire about details only the real owner would likely know (e.g., how long they’ve owned the property).
• Send mail to the recorded owner. Mail a letter to the owner’s name at the address listed on tax records.
• Use independently verified contact information. Contact the seller via phone numbers or channels found in public records, not just those provided by them.
• Compare signatures. Ask for previously recorded documents and compare signatures to those on sale documents.
• Trust your instincts. If something feels off, pause and investigate further.
• Secure your funds. Avoid wiring money without confirming instructions via a trusted phone line; use escrow or trusted closing agents.
• Obtain title insurance. This can provide legal defense and financial protection if someone makes an unauthorized claim on your property.