Below are the cast of the characters in this story:

• Son: Chris P. Bacon (also referred to as "the younger Bacon")
• Father: Oscar M. Bacon
• Grandfather: Chris P. Bacon
• Buyers: Tom and Harriett

The sale of the lake front property in Montana, did not involve any real estate agents. The property was purported to be for sale by owner. On September 23, 2019, the Chicago Title escrow officer discovered Chris P. Bacon sold the property belonging to his grandfather, who bears the same name.

The buyers, Tom and Harriett, had hired a surveyor to stake the lot lines. Nearby neighbors told the surveyor the real owner never intended on selling the property. When the escrow officer received the call from the surveyor, she escalated the claim of possible forgery to FNF's National Escrow Administration department.

After the national escrow administrator reviewed the chain of title, she discovered the grandfather purchased the property in 1994, when the younger Bacon was just 16 years old — so he could not have been the true and rightful owner.

There was no other conveyance, since the deed recorded in 1994 and minors are not permitted to hold title to real property. The younger Bacon used his deceased grandfather's identity and sold the property without the family's knowledge. The deed he signed was a complete forgery.

The national escrow administrator confirmed with the younger Bacon's father, Oscar M. Bacon, the property belonged to his father, also named Chris P. Bacon, who passed away in Norway on February 2, 2007. The property was never probated and a deed of distribution had never been recorded.

Oscar stated his father had purchased the property in 1994, with the hope the family would build cabins on the property and spend vacations together on the lake. He produced a last will and testament from Norway — as well as a translation to English — reflecting the sole heir as himself.

The national escrow administrator asked the bank to freeze the account where the proceeds were deposited to prevent the younger Bacon from syphoning off the proceeds while the transaction was being unwound. The younger Bacon's wife was in the bank the very next day and discovered, much to her surprise, their account had been restricted and she was unable to withdraw any money.

The younger Bacon was furious and called the national escrow administrator claiming nothing his dad ever did was legal. He insisted the property belonged to him and not his grandfather. The national escrow administrator informed him the property title would be transferred back to his grandfather and any other attempts to sell the property out from his family would be prohibited.

The local police where the deed had been forged were contacted to open a case against the younger Bacon. Thereafter, proof was provided to the bank of the forgery and the funds were eventually returned to Chicago Title Company.

Next the national escrow administrator reached out to the buyers, Tom and Harriett, to inform them they would have to deed the property back to the rightful owner of the property in exchange for a refund of their down payment and costs.

The deed was prepared and sent to a Chicago Title office near the buyer's residence, where they signed in the presence of a notary public.

In the meantime, Oscar was told to obtain legal counsel to probate the estate and obtain legal ownership of the property to prevent this type of forgery from occurring in the future. He was still in disbelief that his son would steal the property out from under him, as well as his siblings. This story is just one more example that no one will do you in faster than your friends and family.