KUALA LUMPUR - The issue of land ownership fraud without the knowledge of the original owner is becoming increasingly concerning, as most cases are detected involving abandoned land.
Revealing this, property lawyer Mohd Norzaki Yusop said that such land was typically not cultivated or the owner has passed away.
He said that fraudsters took advantage of this situation with various clever tactics, with most cases involving faking land titles or impersonating the original owner's identity.
"There are also fraudsters who approach elderly individuals who have the same name as stated on the title to pretend to be the landowner.
"Another method involves victims purchasing land from fraudsters. After making the full payment, the victim later discovers that the land belongs to someone else.
"Such fraudulent cases can be carried out by land brokers, lawyers, and even close family members," he told Sinar.
He added that weaknesses in the land management system further open opportunities for fraud.
"Old land titles without identity card numbers and the lack of thorough checks, as well as lenient procedures, create room for fraud to occur,” he said.
On the matter of reclaiming land ownership, he said the only step is through the court process.
"This is because, under the concept of land ownership in the National Land Code, the name of the owner on the title cannot be contested except by court order.
"The Land Office cannot arbitrarily change the name of the landowner without a court order.
"Victims need to file a lawsuit to prevent further transactions and to regain their rights to the land,” he said.
Norzaki said that although legal action could be taken, the court process is time-consuming and depends on the complexity of the case, which burdens the victim both financially and emotionally.
He also suggested several steps to improve the land management system, legal reforms and administration.
"This includes increasing the knowledge of land office staff about laws and fraud techniques, as well as enhancing transparency in administration.
"More intensive monitoring should also be conducted to minimise fraud in government administration.
"The Land Office needs to thoroughly review land transaction documents before approving any ownership transfers,” he said.
In addition, lawyers involved in land transactions should ensure that the parties signing documents are physically present to verify their identities.
This step, he said, was crucial to prevent impersonation.
He also recommended that the government launch an awareness campaign through social media and electronic platforms to provide information to the public.
"This campaign will help the public understand the dangers and risks in land transactions and better knowledge can help them avoid becoming victims,” he said.
At the same time, landowners were advised to conduct regular checks at the land office to ensure that their land status has not changed without their knowledge.