BRUNSWICK COUNTY, N.C. (WECT) – Residents in Brunswick County are being asked to watch out for a real estate scam involving properties that are not actually for sale, according to the county sheriff’s office.

Per the Brunswick County Sheriff’s Office, the scam has been targeting vacant and seasonably used properties in the area.

“The North Carolina Real Estate Commission has been receiving an increasing number of calls about fraudulent buyers and sellers attempting to scam innocent people, attorneys, and lenders out of due diligence fees, properties, or mortgage payoffs. These scam artists can be located anywhere in the world, yet claim they are local,” the N.C. Real Estate Commission says.

The commission describes an incident in which someone noticed a “For Sale By Owner” sign on their neighbor’s property but did not recognize the phone number on the sign.

“Suspicious, the neighbor, who knew the property owner, called the owner with the phone number the neighbor already had and asked if they were selling. The owner said ‘No’ and called the police to take down the sign and investigate,” the commission explains.

“If you have property that is vacant or only used seasonally, please be sure to check in with neighbors on occasion and ask them to check on your property. And remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it likely is,” the BCSO adds.

More information about the scam can be found on the N.C. Real Estate Commission website.

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