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CLEAR Identity Verification for Vacant Land Sellers: How Chicago Title Protects the Real Owner

September 17, 2026
CLEAR Identity Verification for Vacant Land Sellers: How Chicago Title Protects the Real Owner

If you own vacant land, you’re exactly the kind of owner fraudsters are looking for. So Chicago Title is rolling out a layer of protection built for you.

When you sell vacant land with us, we’ll confirm it’s really you through CLEAR’s biometric identity verification. A selfie, a photo of your ID, and a couple of minutes on your phone. The whole point is making sure the only person who can sell your land is you.

And if you’re signing with our remote online notarization, that protection is already built in. More on that below.

Why vacant land needs the protection

The National Association of Realtors’ 2025 Deed and Title Fraud Survey put numbers on it. Of the title fraud cases seen in the past year, 62 percent involved vacant land. Only 12 percent involved owner occupied homes.

NAR’s explanation is simple. Vacant parcels aren’t occupied, and they aren’t usually closely monitored by the actual owner, who may even live out of state.

The FBI has been sounding the same alarm. ABC News reported in 2024 that the bureau had seen a 500 percent increase in vacant land fraud over the prior four years.

The FBI’s Newark office lays out the playbook. The criminal shows up with a fake ID, fake documents, and even fake notary stamps and seals. They ask for a quick sale, sometimes accepting offers way below market. And they always have an excuse for why they can’t appear in person or on video. They’re traveling abroad. They don’t have a smartphone. They’re in the hospital.

I wrote about what happens to the real owner when one of these gets through in my piece on how fake power of attorney and vacant land scams are hitting Chicagoland closings. This one is about the protection that keeps it from getting that far.

What the seller actually sees

Here’s the whole process, so you can walk a client through it.

  1. The seller receives an email invitation.
  2. They click “Verify with CLEAR.”
  3. They confirm their phone number through multi factor authentication.
  4. They enter their email and accept the terms.
  5. They complete verification on a mobile device by taking a selfie and uploading their ID.

It’s designed to be quick, simple, and mobile friendly. The verification screen says it takes one to two minutes on a phone with a working camera, and CLEAR encrypts and protects the seller’s personal information. If your client wants to see it ahead of time, there’s an FAQ and a live walkthrough at inhere.com/CLEAR.

Signing with RON? You’re already covered.

If your seller signs through Chicago Title’s remote online notarization, they don’t need a separate CLEAR verification. Our RON process verifies their identity as part of the signing.

In my opinion, RON is the best way to sign closing documents. Here’s how it typically works for a client at Chicago Title.

Technology check

Identity verification

Connect with a notary

The signing

Completion

That’s identity verification before the session and again once the notary is on the line, which is why a RON seller is already covered.

One important distinction. The FBI says fake sellers want to do everything online, and CertifID lists a seller who pushes for a remote or mobile notary they arrange as a red flag. Signing online isn’t the problem. Signing with a notary the seller picked is. When the seller signs through our RON process, the notary and the identity check come through Chicago Title, not through someone the seller lined up.

Tricks expire. Systems don’t.

The FBI’s Newark office put it bluntly. These criminals are pretty good at faking their identities if there’s just a preliminary look. A copy of an ID and a notary stamp used to feel like enough. The FBI has documented fake versions of both in these schemes.

That’s why protection has to be a system, not a judgment call. CLEAR’s biometric identity verification doesn’t depend on anyone at the closing table having a good gut feeling that day.

The way I see it, the whole scheme relies on the fake seller never having to show up. Verifying vacant land sellers, through CLEAR or through our RON process, takes that away.

And if a seller pushes back hard on a quick identity check, pay attention. CertifID lists resistance to standard identity verification as a red flag.

A tool for attorney agents too

CLEAR isn’t only for vacant land. If there’s ever uncertainty about a client’s identity, attorney agents can request a CLEAR verification for added confidence and a more secure closing. Contact your local Chicago Title office to request a link.

Warning signs worth watching, from the FBI and CertifID:

None of these proves fraud on its own. CertifID’s point is that they deserve a closer look when they show up together.

When you bring it up with a client, lead with what it is: an additional layer of protection for their property and their closing.

The bigger picture

I’ve also written about Monitor inHere and property monitoring after closing, which watches the public record once the deal is done. CLEAR and RON sit on the front end, confirming the seller is who they say they are before closing.

Protection before closing. Monitoring after. Neither one depends on somebody catching a detail at the right moment, and that’s the point. The fakes keep getting better. The answer is making sure the real owner is the one at the table, even when the table is a phone screen.

If you’re seeing this pattern on your desk, it would be great to hear about it. Let’s talk.

Frequently asked questions

Why is vacant land a target for seller impersonation fraud? NAR’s 2025 Deed and Title Fraud Survey found that 62 percent of the title fraud cases seen in the past year involved vacant land, compared with 12 percent for owner occupied homes. Vacant parcels aren’t occupied and usually aren’t closely monitored by the actual owner, who may even live out of state.

What does CLEAR identity verification involve for a seller? An email invitation, a click on “Verify with CLEAR,” a phone number check through multi factor authentication, then a selfie and a photo of their ID on a mobile device. The verification screen says it takes one to two minutes on a phone with a working camera.

Do sellers who sign with Chicago Title’s remote online notarization need a separate CLEAR verification? No. Our RON process verifies identity as part of the signing: a government issued ID upload, a knowledge based authentication questionnaire, and a second ID check by the notary during the session.

Is signing online a red flag for fraud? Signing online isn’t the problem. Signing with a notary the seller picked is. CertifID lists a seller who pushes for a remote or mobile notary they arrange as a red flag.

Can attorney agents request a CLEAR verification on other files? Yes. If there’s ever uncertainty about a client’s identity, contact your local Chicago Title office to request a CLEAR verification link.

What are the warning signs of vacant land seller fraud? A seller who can’t or won’t meet in person or on video, pushes for a notary they arrange, or wants a fast all cash close at or below market. Also watch for no mortgage or lien on the property and an owner of record who is out of state, an LLC, or inherited the land. None of these proves fraud alone, but together they deserve a closer look.

Sources

Peter Shimp
Peter Shimp
Vice President, Chicago Title

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