Take Action! Fraud Alert: “Ghost Title Agency”

Each month, Title Agent and Law Firm Members come together as the Agents' Section of FLTA to discuss industry issues, consumer protections, and legislative or judicial activity. During last month's meeting, Ghost Title Agencies were discussed and every company needs to take action (not just title agency and law firms either).

We have discussed seller impersonation at-length the last couple years, but fraudsters have returned to spoofing title agencies to appear as a real agency - in a very sophisticated way. Fraudsters are going so far as to creating a fake agency on Sunbiz, opening bank accounts tied to the fake agency, creating fake web sites, and are likely copying an agency in other ways.

Once these fake accounts are opened the fraudsters contact a real estate professional looking for a contract and a buyer to use their fake agency. One title agency has identified FIVE (5) websites spoofing their agency and learned of a dozen transactions where the consumer has been or was close to being defrauded.

Here are some ways to check in Florida (not a conclusive list):

• Visit Sunbiz.org, specifically this page: Search Records - Division of Corporations - Florida Department of State 
  • Using the various search features, check for any duplicates or close to duplicate companies that resemble or are close to your company's name (Name, Officer/Registered Agent, etc.)
  • Especially check for duplicate FEI/EIN registrations

• DNS Twister
  • Check dnstwister.report
  • This web site will perform a search for other domains similar to yours to help identify fake web pages acting as a real company.

Lastly, if you learn that your company is being spoofed:

1. Alert your local authorities and follow their guidance, if action is necessary.
2. Let us know at FLTA. We are looking to bring this forward to the Florida Department of State and are needing examples. Please email them to Scott@FLTA.org.

If you are a Title Agency or Law Firm Member, and not attending the monthly Agents Section calls, we hope you will join us. If for some reason you don't have the calendar invite, please email Jena Daly to be added to the list. These Section meetings are on the third Wednesday of each month and are open to Title Agency and Law Firm members.

Thank you for taking action to protect the integrity of the transaction and the consumer.