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New Hampshire couple's dream of building a retirement home was put on hold when scammers posing as the land owner tried to sell it. The FBI says this is not an isolated incident, and 7's Dave Puglisi has been investigating.

    Laurie and Joe Mallenfant had purchased the property with plans to build their dream home in a scenic area with abundant wildlife. However, they were soon flooded with calls, texts, and emails from realtors asking for details about the sale of their land. The couple described it as a "barrage" of messages that left them shaken.

    The scammers, known as title pirates, typically forge documents and contact realtors to convince them to make a quick sale. Licensed realtor Tyler Costa was one of those contacted, but he was suspicious and verified the seller's legitimacy before proceeding.

    FBI Special Agent Vivian Barrios says these scams often involve elaborate identity theft schemes, targeting properties with no development on them. The FBI estimates that 2,300 people in New England have fallen victim to this type of scam, although Barrios believes the actual number could be much higher due to underreporting.

    The Mallenfants' scammers were eventually tracked down to Nigeria and confronted, but a new group has since emerged targeting their land. The couple is taking precautions to protect themselves from future scams.