Seller impersonation fraud gains ground in real estate

being caught.

Due to the types of property being targeted, it can take months or years for the actual property owner to discover the fraud. Property monitoring services offered by county recorder’s offices are helpful, especially if the fraud is discovered prior to the transfer of money.

JAY BEDECARRÉ The Pioneer

Diablo Japanese American Club’s Summer Festival returned after a three-year hiatus bringing classical Japanese dance, Ikenobo (flower arrangements) and traditional food to Concord on the last weekend of July.

Attendees came from all over the Bay Area to the Japanese American Religious & Cultural Center on Treat Blvd. for the event. The lines at every food booth demonstrated the pent up demand for the festival’s return.

Sophisticated fraudsters have been impersonating property owners to illegally sell commercial or residential property.

My representative at Chicago Title Co. sent out information about this, and I thought it was important to share.

These criminals use the real property owner’s Social Security and driver’s license numbers in the transaction, as well as legitimate notary credentials that may be applied without the notary’s knowledge. They prefer using email and text messages to communicate, allowing them to mask themselves and commit crimes from anywhere without

To pull off these schemes, criminals search public records to identify real estate that is free of mortgage or other liens and to identify the property owners. Properties often include vacant lots or rentals.

Posing as the property owner, the fraudster contacts a real estate agent to list the property for sale below market value to generate immediate interest. As offers come in, they then show a preference for a cash buyer. They quickly accept an offer and then refuse to sign closing documents in person, instead using a remote notary signing.

The criminal or a co-conspirator impersonates the notary and provides falsified documents to the title company or closing attorney. The title company or closing attorney unwittingly transfers clos- ing proceeds to the criminal.

All communication is electronic, not in person.

The scheme is often discovered when recording the transfer of documents with the relevant county.

These crimes have particularly affected the elderly and foreign real estate property owners as there are no means to notify the legitimate owners automatically. The burden of verification is on the real estate and title companies.

To prevent this type of fraud, buyers should:

• Conduct open-source research for the identity and a recent photo of the purported seller.

• Request an in-person or virtual meeting to see government-issued identification.

• Be alert when a seller accepts an offer below market value in exchange for receiving the payment in cash and closing quickly. Use trusted title companies and attorneys for the exchange of closing documents and funds.

Jennifer Stojanovich is an owner/broker with Better Homes Real Estate. Send questions and comments to jennifer@bhrbroker.com

“Since the pandemic, I think a lot of people have really missed the festival,’’ said Karen Sakata, president of the Diablo Japanese American Club.

In addition to flowers and dance, displays included calligraphy, Taiko (Japanese drums), Judo and Kendo (Japanese swords). Obon, a Japanese tradition honoring ancestors and people who have died, was celebrated as well.

Visitors enjoyed tasty treats such as tempura, udon, gyoza, and sake.

Around 400 families who belong to the nearly 100-yearold club organized and staffed the event.

Classical Hindu dance at Pleasant Hill Library

DAVID SCHOLZ Correspondent

Young performers brought the classical dance known as Bharata Natyam to the Pleasant Hill Library on Aug. 8, illustrating the expression of Hindu religious themes and devotions.

Seven students, ages 9-13, represented the Dublin-based Kalaikoil Dance & Arts of India. They performed a variety of routines in bare feet, keeping with the tradition of Hindu temples.

The classical dance, characteristic of Southeast India, is compared to Western ballet for its strong, structured steps. Placement of the hands tells the story through conventional gesture language, while the face expresses the mood.

School leaders hope the large crowd gained a greater appreciation of the Hindu classical art form, whose terminology and techniques date back to ancient principles. For more information, visit www.kalaikoil.com.