Indiana County Warns of Fraudulent Property Sales by Out-of-State Scammers

Authorities have flagged at least 10 attempted fraudulent property sales in the past year.

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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Leaders in Indiana County, Pennsylvania are warning residents about a growing scheme where alleged out-of-state owners of vacant rural properties are trying to fraudulently sell land that does not belong to them. The Indiana County Recorder of Deeds Office has flagged at least 10 attempted fraudulent sales since 2025, which would have amounted to millions of dollars in property theft.

Why it matters

This scam highlights the vulnerability of rural property owners, especially those with vacant land, to sophisticated fraud schemes perpetrated by out-of-state criminals. The county is working closely with local law enforcement and real estate professionals to combat these illegal activities and protect property owners.

The details

The fraudulent sales scheme involves scammers posing as the owners or family members of owners of vacant rural properties in Indiana County. They forge documents and information to make it appear the properties belong to them, then attempt to sell the land to unsuspecting buyers. Since the first fraudulent sale was caught in 2025, the Recorder of Deeds Office has flagged at least 10 more attempted sales, which would have added up to millions in stolen property.

  • In the summer of 2025, the Indiana County Recorder of Deeds Office became aware of the fraudulent property sales scheme.
  • Since 2025, the Recorder of Deeds Office has flagged at least 10 attempted fraudulent property sales.

The players

Maria Jack

The Indiana County Recorder of Deeds, who has been working to combat the fraudulent property sales scheme.

Tom Moreau

A local manager of two Berkshire Hathaway real estate offices, who recently flagged a potential fraudulent sale to the Recorder of Deeds Office.

Pennsylvania State Police

The state law enforcement agency that is currently investigating the illegal property sales.

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What they’re saying

“It's really bad. When I took over from the previous recorder, she was here for 34 years, and I said to her, 'I can't believe what I walked into, because it just gets worse with every instance, and we have to constantly be on the lookout.'”

— Maria Jack, Indiana County Recorder of Deeds (cbsnews.com)

“They evidently have a fraudulent notary in their pocket, because all the paper is coming up notarized. I couldn't match up the parcel numbers with the information the guy was giving us, and then it turned out to not be valid. Pretty scary considering, once that money hits the wire, it's gone.”

— Tom Moreau, Local real estate manager (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

The Pennsylvania State Police are currently investigating the fraudulent property sales, and the Indiana County Recorder of Deeds Office is working closely with local real estate professionals to combat the scam and protect property owners.

The takeaway

This case highlights the importance of vigilance and communication between local authorities, real estate professionals, and property owners to combat sophisticated fraud schemes targeting rural landowners. Residents with vacant properties should contact their county Recorder of Deeds Office to set up alerts and safeguard their assets.