Title Fraud Involving Owners Living Abroad

Customers are reminded to follow best practices to avoid title fraud. The Land Title and Survey Authority of British Columbia (LTSA) is aware of two attempts at title fraud, one of which was successful, both involving fraudsters impersonating registered owners who live abroad.

In both cases, the property managers responsible for renting the homes took instructions from the fraudster from different phone numbers and email addresses than those authorized by the owners, and shared documents that enabled the fraudster to better impersonate the owners.  Both properties were listed for sale by realtors who accepted a scanned copy of a forged passport to verify the identity of the supposed owner.  In one case, an unsuspecting legal professional retained by the fraudster impersonating the registered owner also relied on a copy of the forged passport to verify the identity of the client, and assisted the fraudster in transferring the title to the property.