221 Cannon Road Is Not for Sale
by mecredis on 2/3/2026, 4:56:06 PM
https://fredbenenson.com/blog/2026/02/03/221-cannon-is-not-for-sale/
Comments
by: emptybits
1. Author lost me at his first sentence: "Like most people, I’ve had my identity stolen once or twice in my life." I am careful and aware of this possibility, but AFAIK I have not experienced this, nor have "most people" I know. o_O Crazy times.<p>2. I don't even understand how a title transfer could happen without verifying ownership. Is the title system in the USA decentralized or that much different than elsewhere? i.e. Torrens-style
2/3/2026, 6:38:24 PM
by: thekevan
What about sinking 3 2x4s into the ground and nailing a 4x8 sheet of plywood with a tastefully painted sign indicating the property is not for sale?<p>It won't stop everyone but any realtor doing due diligence will likely see it. If is lasts long enough, it will show up on Google street view as well.
2/3/2026, 6:34:26 PM
by: DannyPage
Owning a vacant lot far from where you live seems to come with some risks. In Hawaii, a woman found out that a house was built on the wrong lot and inspectors missed it until the completed house was being sold. I'm curious if there are other proactive measures folks could take to ensure that doesn't happen to their land.<p><a href="https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/hawaii-home-built-on-wrong-lot-to-be-torn-down-19541255.php" rel="nofollow">https://www.sfgate.com/hawaii/article/hawaii-home-built-on-w...</a>
2/3/2026, 6:48:03 PM
by: dclowd9901
> He gave me the standard line: 2-3 weeks if I hear from anyone.<p>> I never heard from anyone.<p>What is the FBI doing if they're not working on cases like this or domestic terrorism/mass shootings? We continue to have both classes of crimes in droves.
2/3/2026, 7:39:01 PM
by: rwmj
Somewhat common in the UK as well, example: <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-63392025" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-63392...</a> (It took him 4 years to recover possession <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwygv79n8x1o" rel="nofollow">https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cwygv79n8x1o</a>)<p>Here you can register with the Land Registry and they will email you if any enquiries or attempted sales happen on your property: <a href="https://www.gov.uk/protect-land-property-from-fraud" rel="nofollow">https://www.gov.uk/protect-land-property-from-fraud</a>
2/3/2026, 6:29:22 PM
by: sharadov
A friend owned farm land in India, he moved to Canada. The property deed was in his name.<p>Someone in India, with fraudulent documents "sold" his land.<p>He only came to know about it when he next visited India. Unfortunately he could not do much. There are people who will actively look through property records - if the person is not a local resident ( lives internationally ), then they are prime targets.<p>This was a decade ago - things have gotten a lot better with digital records and India's Universal ID system. But I did not realize, something like this was possible in the US.
2/3/2026, 7:56:40 PM
by: lateforwork
In the US identity theft is easier than in other countries because financial transactions are designed to be convenient, not safe. You can sell a property you own, or move your entire Fidelity savings to another bank, all without showing up in person.
2/3/2026, 6:30:58 PM
by: marssaxman
For years now I have been regularly receiving unsolicited offers to buy 560 Bluefields Street SE, an undeveloped lot in Palm Bay, Florida. Whether the land is actually for sale, I have no idea; I've never been anywhere near the place, and cannot imagine why anyone would believe I owned land there. I wish I could somehow redirect the speculators who won't stop pestering me to scammers like the ones in this tale, so they would leave me in peace and all go harass each other instead.<p>I suspect that the speculators are scammers anyway: they never respond to my questions.
2/3/2026, 7:32:10 PM
by: ajcp
> He also provided a fake email for my brother: alexanderedwardenenson@out-look.com. Notice the subtle misspelling — “Benenson” without the second “n” in the email, and the hyphenated “out-look.com” domain.<p>Surely you meant "'Benenson' without the “b” in the email, and the hyphenated 'out-look.com' domain"?
2/3/2026, 6:24:00 PM
by: silisili
Sadly, incredibly common. It's a shame we don't have better protections for this by now.<p>Here's another I remember reading recently. I feel sorry for both parties and not sure how I think that should be adjudicated...<p><a href="https://www.businessinsider.com/property-fraud-lawsuit-fairfield-connecticut-2023-8" rel="nofollow">https://www.businessinsider.com/property-fraud-lawsuit-fairf...</a>
2/3/2026, 7:26:14 PM
by: maciekkmrk
Is this something a title insurance could help with?
2/3/2026, 6:32:38 PM
by: wplu
Another story of a title transfer scam: <a href="https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/title-pirates/id290783428?i=1000677959786" rel="nofollow">https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/title-pirates/id290783...</a>
2/3/2026, 6:50:41 PM
by: 1970-01-01
6. If questioned, they disappear.<p>Seems like this isn't really a problem? Who sells land without questions?
2/3/2026, 7:15:25 PM
by: teeray
Periodic reminder that "identity theft" is the financial system gaslighting you into thinking their poor decisions are your fault.
2/3/2026, 6:41:52 PM
by: IhateAI
This doesn't make sense, earnest money would be in escrow until the title clears. The scammer would never have access to the earnest money, nor would it ever get transferred to them unless the buyer took too long to close, or didn't come up with funds?? Like the title company would almost have to be involved for this to work.
2/3/2026, 7:03:44 PM
by: juancn
<p><pre><code> Like most people, I’ve had my identity stolen once or twice in my life. </code></pre> Huh? It's not as common. I don't think I've been victim of it ever, unless it's way more common in some other countries?<p>Much less on a property deal where identity and ownership are heavily scrutinized.
2/3/2026, 6:52:40 PM
by: clarkmoody
The FBI won't get involved unless it's politically advantageous.
2/3/2026, 7:26:33 PM