Real Estate Scams

One of the largest industries in existence is the buying and selling of real estate, and annual losses in real estate scams worldwide add up to billions of dollars lost. If buying or selling a house, commercial property, or land, you need to be careful to avoid falling victim to one. 

Real estate investment seminar scams, promising a formula for getting rich in real estate if only one invests, are common during both boom and bust cycles in the real estate market. 

Also, be sure to watch for real estate email scams in your inbox. 

 

Real Estate Scams: List Below

Other common real estate scams include fraudulent listings, such as pictures and descriptions that aren’t of the property that is being advertised for sale. 

Be careful in real estate dealings. Keep an eye on this page to learn about real estate scams as they emerge, and know how to spot them coming. See below:

Foreign Buyer/Investor

How the scam works: In today's housing market it can be difficult to sell a home (or even a restaurant). Many homeowners looking to relocate are finding themselves sitting on a home they are unable to move. Therefore, when they receive an offer of purchase they are usually so excited that they fail to see […]

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Fake Owner Leasing Property

Real Estate Fraud: Fake Owner Leasing Property (with video below) The housing crisis has left many looking for reasonably priced rental homes in decent neighborhoods. Some are turning to posting online advertisements requesting affordable accommodations for their families. Sadly there are scammers that will take advantage of families who are just looking for a […]

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Flopping Houses

How the scam works: The down economy has caused a lot of homeowners to become 'underwater' on their mortgage, meaning they owe more on their mortgage than the home is worth. This leaves homeowners wanting to sell their homes to get financially ahead, but unable to do so because they will still owe money on […]

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The Dual Flush Toilet Installation aka The Low Flow Toilets Rebate Scam, Exposed

How the scam works: (with video below) One of the biggest scams out there this month is the Dual Flush Toilet Installation or Low Flow Toilets Rebate scam. Let's take a look. Many states and provinces are offering tax incentives or rebates to homeowners who are making a conscious effort at being energy proficient. These programs […]

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National Mortgage Settlement Deposit

How the scam works: In the United States, the government's $25 billion National Mortgage Settlement program alleviated the fear of foreclosure for many families, as it helped thousands of homeowners stay in their homes. Unfortunately this windfall also brought scammers out to prey upon unsuspecting homeowners who were already in dire financial straits. The National […]

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Revoked Real Estate License

Real Estate License Scam: How It Works Real estate agents are victims of a new scam which is spreading quickly all over the world. Any realtor will tell you that having and keeping a current license is crucial to their career. Without it, they are not allowed to work. The Real Estate License scam involves agents receiving […]

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Contaminated Properties

How the scam works: (with video below) In today's housing market it can be difficult for young couples to realize the dream of home ownership. Many couples choose purchasing a foreclosed home “as is” in order to secure a lower purchase price. There is a risk to buying these homes, as many are discovering the […]

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Solar Panels Fraud

Solar Panel Installations Scam: How It Works Solar panel installations and fake products – all are back in the news. This year one of the biggest scams around is the Solar Power System or Solar Panels for Your Home scam. It is part of the home improvement fraud group and is doing its rounds again. […]

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Real Estate Agent Impersonation

How the scam works: (with video) This is a new one to the world of scamming but apparently the game stakes are rising as people are taking legitimate real estate professionals and using their names to place bogus rent ads on Kijiji, Oodle, Gumtree, or Craigslist. Essentially these people are verifying themselves with another's credentials, […]

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Reverse Mortgage Lenders

How the scam works: (with video below) If you've heard about the term 'reverse mortgage' and consider doing it, beware of shady reverse mortgage lenders. Watch video below and read this article to educate yourself. First things first: how does a reverse mortgage work? A reverse mortgage happens when the homeowner takes out a cash […]

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Short Sales Fraud

How the scam works: (with video below) What is the short sale fraud? Using a “neutral” middleman, investors make a lowball offer on a house where the debt on the property is larger than its total value. Then they require the transaction to be completed right away. The estimates of home appraisers and price brokers […]

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Foreign Property Investment

How the scam works: You are interested in buying a property or a land in a different country and start looking for places. Finding a great investment opportunity to build a house, let's say, in Bulgaria, you even come across an established developer. Upon researching his portfolio, everything looks good and trustworthy, because it genuinely […]

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Loan Modification

How the scam works: (with video below) With the recent recession, loan modifications have become a very popular way for people to make their mortgage payments a little more manageable. Unfortunately, this creates yet another way for ruthless people to help you part with your money. Let's say you're struggling to pay all your bills […]

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Loan Moved to New Company

How the scam works: Scammers use phony letterheads, sending letters to loan borrowers stating the bank handed over the responsibility for servicing their home loans to another company. This was the case with Bank of America customers being informed that their home loans were moved to Great Western Business Services, a phony group created by […]

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