Schemes from the past
Fraudsters have no problem drawing overly gullible citizens into financial transactions, the schemes of which are thought out in advance. It is almost impossible to suspect a person of deception, and then it is difficult to prove the illegality of actions.
It often happens that scammers come up with original stories about family ties with the owner of the land. A man buys a plot of land and thinks that everything went well, but after a while a person appears on the doorstep who proves that the land belongs to him by inheritance.
Without much investigation, a scam occurs and the buyer is left without money and real estate. In such a case, you must read all documents carefully and consult with a lawyer. It would also be advisable to seek help from lawyers on your own side, and not from those advised by the realtor.
Sales fraud
Often people who sell land plots have forged documents in their hands. Legal documents and land plot papers can be masterfully forged. Citizens receive documents that are not original, but cannot immediately understand this.
In the case where the land was sold more than once, we can conclude that everything went through legally only the first time. The rest of the time, the imaginary owner tried to resell the land that no longer belonged to him. The attackers act very confidently and quickly, so the buyer will not even think about possible deception. After the notarized registration of the contract and the final payment for the land, nothing can be changed.
Realtors are often involved in fraud. The fact is that they are associated with serious people, officials who are ready to cover up all crimes for the sake of their own enrichment. They can also easily correct the registration base of all rights to land ownership. All this makes it possible to carry out even double transactions, exposing areas that are not those that actually exist.
Hidden communications
Land plots with hidden underground communications are most often resold at an affordable price. Forged documents that indicate topographical and geological surveys of the site indicate that gas and water supply are completely absent. In this case, the land can be used for the construction of residential premises. The profit for many scammers is incredibly high, because in fact such an object costs 2 times less.
The buyer does not even realize that the land is unsuitable for further construction of residential premises. Then you will have to invest a large sum to free up the land. The truth will come to the surface only when underground work or installation of communications begins. If it becomes known that there are communications underground, the owner may be fined and forced to move everything at his own expense.
Scam when purchasing
Buyers who are not fully aware of all the intricacies of concluding contracts may encounter incorrect paperwork. All the papers can actually be signed by a dummy, at a time when the real owner of the site knows nothing about what is happening.
Another mistake buyers make is not knowing what correctly completed documents should look like. When making a transaction, you can generally get a falsification in your hands, and not a state act. After purchasing a plot, the buyer may become aware that there is another owner of the same property. He may have full or partial rights to the land. It is worth making inquiries about a particular area in advance.
For many buyers, a deal with a realtor turns out to be simply a money-losing situation.
You can independently determine whether the realtor is working in this matter in good faith:
- the fraudster does not allow the buyer to meet the imaginary seller;
- requests a huge advance even before concluding a contract;
- shows himself to be too aggressive or, on the contrary, polite;
- brings down the price of land only if the deal is concluded within a few days or hours.
Absolutely anyone can encounter such a situation, because no one is immune from the influence of attackers.
Illegal rental
There is another type of land fraud, which involves renting out premises or land without the appropriate permits. Entire organizations are engaged in such crimes. Buyers do not even realize that they are being deceived.
The fact is that the attackers gain confidence and assure that all the papers are in perfect order. After some time, it becomes known that these are illegal organizations and they do not act in accordance with the laws. All contracts can be canceled and considered invalid. The problem is that no one will return the money.
Real stories of victims
Alexey decided to move to the Ryazan region with his family from the Far North. In the first year, he decided to come for exploration, buy land and start building a house. Then bring your family.
The deal to purchase the land did not raise any doubts in him: he was buying the plot from an old friend. After all, childhood friends don’t “dump” each other!
A few months later, it turned out that Alexei’s friend bought the plot himself, not suspecting that he was acquiring it using forged documents. Moreover, the deception was on the part of enterprising local officials who, by falsifying resolutions of the head of the district, sold about 20 hectares of farmland.
The land was confiscated, Alexey lost his money, as well as his friend.
In the Kirov region, the large Ivlev family bought a plot of land and built a house in an area that they really liked. Currently, they have a court ruling on the demolition of the unauthorized building or on the purchase of the land from its legal owner - the state.
At the time of acquisition of the plot, the land was owned by the mother of the head of the settlement, who “sold” several hundred hectares of land to his relatives for pennies, illegally transferring them from forest fund lands to the category of individual housing construction.
The deception was exposed years later, the perpetrators were punished, but the families who acted as bona fide purchasers suffered. Unfortunately, in this case the law was not on their side.
False site location
The criminals are great at investing completely different land, which is more attractive, in the sales scheme. The buyer hopes to buy one plot, but receives a completely different one or is left with nothing at all. There are also cases when the boundaries of land plots change, but in real life it is difficult to see the discrepancy in the documentation.
Most often, this scheme is used by those people who manage large plots of land. They assume that they will sell the land for a commercial building. In the existing horticultural society, plots were sold that the buyer had not actually seen. After the transaction is completed, the buyer is presented with a neighboring plot.
Trusting relationship
It is not the most common crime, but it exists, as a result of which mainly elderly people fall under the scam. Lonely grandmothers are too trusting of well-wishers. There are frequent cases of supposedly responsible and kind treatment of an elderly person in order to take possession of property.
A person appears who is ready to selflessly help an elderly person in everything. He gains confidence, manages the finances and personal time of his ward. After some time, moral pressure begins to arise regarding the appropriation of land plots and all real estate. The elderly man believes that such help can be repaid, but not suspecting that as a result, a kind attacker will take away all property and finances.
© Author of the article: Vladimir Belov If you need free legal advice
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Documentary deception
The most common fraud is related to filling out and submitting documents for a land plot. The buyer has every right to review and check the documents related to the conclusion of the required contract from a legal point of view.
Even the most experienced people will not be able to immediately identify the catch in such cases:
- the seller has prepared in advance documents not only for the land plot, but also for the person who presents himself as a potential owner;
- in the forged documents there is no clause stating that the land plot is encumbered by the seizure of land or the presence of a mortgage;
- all the necessary documents were presented by the realtor, but he does not give the opportunity to personally meet with the imaginary owner of the site.
If you suspect such situations, then it is almost impossible to solve them yourself. It is necessary to be able to understand all issues and recognize the smallest details of the entire matter.
Citizens must distinguish real documents from those that have been forged. Otherwise, you may fall for scammers.
A highly qualified lawyer or lawyer will be able to establish fraud.
To initially verify the authenticity of documents, you must contact the Rosreestr authorities. Upon this request, it will be possible to obtain an extract from the Unified State Register of Real Estate. It will contain accurate information about the owner and his property. In order to send such a request, you only need to know the cadastral number and address of the site.
