By The SHERIDAN Team

• Posted in Farmland
• FEBRUARY 6, 2026
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Farmland Fraud on the Rise in Ohio: What Landowners and Brokers Need to Know

A growing real estate fraud is impacting Southwest and Central Ohio, with agricultural real estate increasingly being targeted. SHERIDANS has recently assisted in uncovering multiple suspected cases involving fraudulent farmland listings, echoing warnings issued by the Ohio Department of Commerce’s Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing. Elderly absentee landowners with vacant, unencumbered (no lien or mortgage) properties appear to be the primary targets.

How it Works

In these scams, individuals falsely claim to own land while attempting to list it for sale through licensed real estate brokers. Communication typically takes place by phone, email, or text, and the perpetrators are often skilled at impersonating legitimate property owners. Their objective is to create urgency, limit verification, and complete a transaction before the fraud is discovered.

How to Mitigate Your Risk

State officials warn that fake real estate listings and deed fraud are increasing across Ohio. Fraudsters may use forged identification or falsified documents to convince brokers, buyers, and title companies that they have authority to sell a property. Once a transaction closes, sale proceeds are frequently wired overseas and disappear almost immediately, making recovery unlikely. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) encourages land owners to set up online search alerts & title alerts for your property and request local friends and family to keep an eye out for suspicious activity (FBI.gov).

Recent Attempted Fraudulent Activity

SHERIDANS has assisted in uncovering several fraudulent attempts in the past week alone. In one instance, concerns about a seller’s identity led to additional due diligence, including sending certified mail to the tax mailing address on record and locating family members. These steps uncovered the fraud before a sale occurred, and information was later provided to the county Sheriff’s office.

In a separate reported case within the region, the fraud was not identified in time. The property sold, and more than one million dollars in proceeds were wired overseas and lost. This highlights the serious financial risks associated with real estate fraud involving farmland.

Farmland is particularly vulnerable because properties are often vacant, owned free and clear, and not regularly monitored. SHERIDANS encourages landowners and real estate professionals to perform due diligence in order to verify seller identities, avoid rushed transactions, and remain vigilant.

Our Promise

With over 50 years of experience in Ohio farmland real estate, SHERIDANS is committed to protecting landowners, buyers, and the integrity of every transaction.