In the News

"That’s when they failed the authentication program," Tom Paschen, senior vice president of Next Wave Title, told WPBF 25 News. "The scam artist had fake IDs with the seller’s title and picture."

As seen on WPBF 25 News: In Palm Beach County, Florida, a new scam targeting both buyers and sellers of land has been identified.

Jeff Lichtenstein, president of Echo Fine Properties, highlighted a case where an agent was approached by a scammer posing as a seller in Jupiter Farms. The scam involved a fraudulent listing agreement and an escrow deposit of $35,000.

Suspicion arose when the supposed landowner displayed ignorance about the local area, leading to collaboration with us at Next Wave Title, which uncovered the scam through failed authentication checks.

A certified letter sent to the actual owner in New York confirmed the scam, preventing a potential loss of $350,000.

​Tom Paschen, senior vice president of Next Wave Title, emphasized the importance of verifying property ownership to prevent such fraud. For sellers, he recommended registering on a website that alerts property owners to any recorded documents or deeds against their property, enhancing security and fraud prevention.