Louisiana woman's family land sold through identity theft scam

Danielle Hale Chief Economist | realtors.com

A Louisiana woman is embroiled in a legal battle to reclaim her family's property after it was fraudulently sold by criminals impersonating her. DaNita Batiste, a health care administrator from Texas, discovered that the land she inherited in Lake Charles, LA, had been illegally sold for $45,000 to Live Oak Insurance Co. using a fake ID.

Batiste stated, "That land’s been in our family for generation after generation, 200 years and maybe further back." The property was meant to be passed down to her children as an inheritance.

When Batiste contacted Live Oak CEO Andrew David Hankins about the sale, he was unaware that the seller was not the real Batiste. She recounted telling Hankins, “I’m the real DaNita Batiste,” to which he responded with surprise.

The fraudulent transaction has been reported to law enforcement and is under investigation by the Calcasieu Parish Sheriff’s Office. Although the $45,000 paid by Live Oak has been frozen and reversed, Batiste is still struggling to have the title returned to her name. The law firm Stutes & Lavergne filed a deed recording for the fraudulent sale but did not comment on the situation.

The fraudsters used Batiste's maiden name "Danita Leday" and forged her signature along with using a stolen notary stamp and false witness signatures. Despite these discrepancies, they managed to bypass vetting processes meant to prevent such frauds.

An individual familiar with the case indicated that this incident might be part of a broader pattern linked to international crime rings. The proceeds from this fraudulent sale were traced back to a bank account connected to an address in Bronx, NY, opened with what is believed to be a forged passport from Sierra Leone.

Marx David Sterbcow of Sterbcow Law Group emphasized the need for preventive measures against such scams. He advised property owners to invest in title insurance and consider products like commercial "title lock" for additional security.

Batiste hopes sharing her experience will raise awareness about identity theft scams targeting property owners who do not reside on their properties or live out of state.

“She’s very fortunate that she found this so quickly,” said Sterbcow regarding Batiste's swift action in identifying the fraud.