Fraudsters Stole Her Identity to Sell Her Property

DaNita Batiste, a health care administrator from Texas, inherited a residential lot in Lake Charles, Louisiana from her mother in 2020. The land had been in her family for over 200 years, and she planned to rebuild on it as a rental investment.

But in December, when Batiste logged in to pay her property taxes, she discovered something shocking—her land had already been sold. Fraudsters had used a fake ID, a forged signature, a stolen notary stamp, and two bogus witness signatures to sell the property to a corporate buyer, Live Oak Insurance Co., for $45,000 cash.

A Devastating Discovery

Stunned, Batiste immediately called Live Oak CEO Andrew David Hankins, who had signed the deed for the sale.

"I'm the real DaNita Batiste," she told him, incredulous. He responded with confusion, and she had to explain: "I own that property. I did not sell it to you."

Batiste and Hankins quickly reported the fraud to police, and investigators confirmed they were looking into the case. Thanks to her quick action, the $45,000 from the sale was frozen and refunded.

However, the title to the property has yet to be restored to her name, despite repeated appeals to the Lake Charles law firm that recorded the fraudulent sale.

The Fraudsters Used Her Maiden Name

What makes the crime even more brazen is that the scammers didn’t even use Batiste’s correct name when signing the fraudulent deed. Instead, they signed as “DaNita Leday”—her maiden name, which she hasn’t used in decades.

"How did this even pass the vetting process?" Batiste wondered. "They couldn’t even get my name right, and yet they still got away with it."

This detail underscores the audacity and carelessness of the scammers, as well as the potential weaknesses in real estate fraud detection.

Investigators Suspect Ties to International Crime Ring

According to a source familiar with the investigation, Batiste’s case follows a pattern of real estate fraud occurring nationwide—and investigators believe it may be linked to an international crime ring.

Authorities traced the proceeds from the fraudulent sale to a bank account in the Bronx, New York, which had been opened with a passport from Sierra Leone. Investigators believe the passport was forged under a false identity.

"This is happening all over the country," the source told Realtor.com. "Scammers target property owners who don’t live on-site or who are out of state, making it easier to forge a sale."

Unfortunately, Batiste fit the profile perfectly—an absentee property owner with no mortgage and no daily involvement in the land.

How to Protect Yourself from Real Estate Scams

Experts warn that absentee homeowners, elderly property owners, and those without mortgages are the most vulnerable to title fraud.

Marx David Sterbcow, a real estate fraud attorney, offers the following steps to help property owners safeguard their homes and land:

Buy title insurance – This covers legal fees if your property title is fraudulently transferred.
Sign up for county title alerts – Many counties offer free title monitoring, notifying homeowners if there are any changes to their property records.
Use a title lock service – This can alert you to unauthorized attempts to change your title.
Regularly check property records – Especially for vacant properties, rental homes, or inherited land.

"She's very lucky she caught this so quickly," Sterbcow said of Batiste’s case. "Many victims don’t realize their property has been stolen until years later, making it much harder to fix."

Bottomline

Batiste’s case is a warning to all homeowners—especially those who own vacant or inherited property. As real estate scams become more sophisticated, staying proactive is your best defense.

If you own property in Orange County or beyond, now is the time to take precautions. Need help navigating title protection and real estate security? Let’s connect—I’d love to help you safeguard your investment.

Reference: Griffith, K. (2025, February 15). EXCLUSIVE: Woman reveals how property was stolen in identity theft real estate scam with ties to international crime ring. Realtor.com.