A Kansas City landowner is sounding the alarm after narrowly avoiding a real estate scam that nearly cost him his property. Tim Lefman—who owns undeveloped land in Johnson County—was stunned to learn that someone had attempted to list and sell his land without permission.
Lefman discovered the scheme when a local realtor contacted him, realizing the person marketing the land wasn’t the actual owner. Lefman revealed that the scammers had used “very legit‑looking” documents, including a fake driver’s license, making the fraud particularly convincing.
“Very frustrated… because there is no real recourse if you have this happen to you,” he said. “The reality that it was almost taken from me is pretty shocking.”
Real estate professionals in the area say this form of fraud is becoming more frequent. Lauren Browne, a Kansas City agent and home builder, advises caution when sellers insist on virtual-only communication, avoid property visits, or only communicate via apps. She also recommends signing up for county land-sale alerts to stay informed of unauthorized listings.
Lefman hopes his close call serves as a warning to others—underscoring the importance of verifying ownership before any deal goes forward. “I’m glad it was stopped,” he added, “but again, there is really little to nothing that keeps this from happening again.”
Based on reporting by: Scripps News.