Priority Title Company
Protective Recording Option for Rhode Island Property Owners
Concerned About Vacant Land Fraud? Consider Recording a Public Notice Stating That Fact.
Prepared by an attorney at Kenyon Law Associates, LLP and recorded in the applicable Rhode Island land evidence records.
Vacant land fraud and other forms of seller impersonation fraud have become increasing concerns throughout the real estate industry. In these schemes, fraudsters may attempt to list, sell, mortgage, lease, transfer, or otherwise encumber property without the true owner’s knowledge or authorization.
To help address this concern, Priority Title Company can coordinate the preparation and recording of a Notice That No Transfer of Interest in or Encumbrance of Property Is Authorized or Intended in the appropriate Rhode Island land evidence records.
Why Certain Properties May Be More Vulnerable
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Vacant land
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Inherited property
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Out-of-state ownership
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Property held in trusts
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Property held in LLCs or other entities
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Non-owner-occupied property
These types of properties may be more attractive targets because ownership activity can be more difficult for third parties to verify and unauthorized activity may be less likely to be noticed immediately.
Fraudulent communications can appear convincing because fraudsters may use real owner information obtained from public records and other sources.
Recent Fraud Warnings
Public agencies and land records offices throughout New England have issued warnings regarding vacant land fraud and seller impersonation fraud.
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Little Compton Land Trust Scammed - 2023 Article
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Connecticut Fraud Alerts (PDF)
Recent Alert: CATIC Fraud Alert June 5, 2026
15 Overlook Road, East Hampton, CT: This vacant lot was the subject of an attempted seller impersonation fraud. Although the Town appraised the property at $70,000.00, the fraudster listed it with a realtor and entered a contract to sell it for $30,000.00. The Agent became suspicious during a telephone call after detecting a foreign accent, despite knowing the true owner is an American who resides in New Hampshire. When asked follow up questions, the fraudster gave the owner’s actual New Hampshire address and his real social security number. Although he initially agreed to appear in person to sign the sale documents, the fraudster later claimed he was stranded in New York and asked that the deed and seller documents be mailed to him instead. The Agent determined that another CATIC Agent had represented the true owner in a prior transaction and reached out to that Attorney who confirmed the photograph on the New Hampshire driver’s license the fraudster provided was fake. The fraudster also provided wiring instructions for a bank in Kansas City, Missouri and seller documents that were purportedly acknowledged in California.
How It Works
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An attorney prepares a Notice That No Transfer of Interest in or Encumbrance of Property Is Authorized or Intended.
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The notice states that the owner has not authorized any person or entity to sell, transfer, mortgage, lease, or otherwise encumber the property.
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The owner’s preferred contact information is included in the notice.
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The notice is recorded in the applicable Rhode Island land evidence records.
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Title examiners, title companies, closing attorneys, buyers, realtors, lenders, and others reviewing a proposed transaction may contact the owner directly before relying on questionable communications or documents.
How This Differs From Monitoring Services
Many monitoring services notify property owners AFTER a document has already been recorded. This service is intended to place a proactive notice directly in the public land evidence records BEFORE a fraudulent transaction gains momentum.
Who May Wish to Consider This Service?
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Owners of vacant land
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Out-of-state property owners
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Families holding inherited property
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Property held in trusts
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Property held in LLCs or other entities
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Owners who are not actively marketing their property for sale
Flat Fee: $300.00
The flat fee includes:
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Attorney preparation of the notice by Kenyon Law Associates, LLP
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Recording in the applicable Rhode Island land evidence records
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The initial recording fee
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Preparation of a future Revocation and Termination document
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Delivery of a draft for review before recording
Important Information
This service does not guarantee that fraud will never be attempted and does not constitute title insurance, legal representation, a title search, or a title opinion.
The purpose of the recorded notice is to create a public record that may assist title companies, closing attorneys, realtors, buyers, lenders, and others in verifying directly with the owner before relying on suspicious communications or documents.
Next Steps
To proceed, download and complete the Service Details and Next Steps PDF and return it to Priority Title Company with your payment.
Please call or email us before submitting payment if you have any questions.
Phone: (401) 789-0276