TL;DR: Property scams target buyers, landlords, hosts and agents with fake payment instructions and impersonation. Verify every payment request by phone using a number you already trust before sending money.
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Homebuyers
Home purchases involve large, time-sensitive wires and several unfamiliar parties.
- Common Tactics Used: Wire fraud where a scammer poses as the title company or agent and sends last-minute 'updated' wiring instructions is the most damaging and well-documented tactic in this group.
- How to Protect Against It: Always confirm wiring instructions by phone using a number from the official closing documents, never one from an email, and call before sending any large payment.
- In India: Common Tactics Used: Fake builders or brokers advertise under-construction flats at below-market prices, collecting a booking advance before disappearing, while others forge RERA registration details to appear legitimate. Fraudsters also impersonate a genuine builder's staff to redirect an installment payment to a different account. How to Protect Against It: Verify a project's RERA registration on the state RERA portal before paying any advance, and confirm payment details directly with the builder's office using a known number, not one from a message.
- More guides on this topic: See also: Scams Targeting Job Seekers and Scams Targeting Recently Laid-Off Workers .
Landlords
Landlords exchange money with strangers, giving scammers cover to pose as tenants.
- Common Tactics Used: Fake tenants pay a security deposit with a bad check and ask for a refund of the 'overpayment,' and fraudulent maintenance vendors request payment upfront for work never done.
- How to Protect Against It: Let deposit checks fully clear before refunding anything, and vet maintenance vendors and their licensing independently rather than trusting whoever contacts you first.
Small Landlords and Airbnb Hosts
Hosts exchange money with strangers through a platform scammers try to bypass.
- Common Tactics Used: Fake guests ask to pay directly outside the platform to avoid fees, then dispute or reverse the payment, and phishing messages impersonate the rental platform asking hosts to 'verify' account details.
- How to Protect Against It: Keep all payments and messages inside the official platform, never move a booking off-platform to 'save on fees,' and log into account settings directly rather than through emailed links.
Real Estate Agents
Agents coordinate large payments and documents between many unfamiliar parties.
- Common Tactics Used: Business email compromise hijacks an agent's or title company's email thread to send fake wiring instructions at closing, and fake buyers submit fraudulent earnest money deposits.
- How to Protect Against It: Confirm all wiring instructions by phone using a known number before every transaction, and flag any late change to payment details as a likely compromise.
What the FTC says
- Rental listing scams: the FTC says scammers copy the pictures, description or virtual tour from a real listing and replace the agent's contact information with their own. It says rent far cheaper than the area is a sign of a scam, and that anyone insisting you pay only by wire transfer, gift card or cryptocurrency is a scammer (source).
What family and friends can do
Sudden secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals, or a new online relationship that stays undisclosed are all worth a calm, judgment-free conversation. The earlier a scam is caught, the more can usually be recovered.
More guides on this topic
Also see scams targeting business and scams targeting families.
Scammers often start from leaked contact details. A free digital footprint check shows whether your email or number appears in exposed data.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are these groups targeted?
Scammers look for people under pressure or unfamiliar with a process, because they act quickly. Each section above describes the specific reason for that group.
What tactics do scammers use?
They rely on urgency, impersonation and requests for payment or personal details. The tactics for each group are listed in its section.
How can I protect myself or a relative?
Slow the decision down, verify the person or offer through a channel you already trust, and never pay to receive a job, prize, refund or benefit.
What should family or friends watch for?
Sudden secrecy about money, unusual withdrawals or wire transfers, and reluctance to discuss a new opportunity or contact are worth a gentle, non-judgmental conversation.
What should I do if I think this has already happened?
Stop all contact and payments immediately, report it to the appropriate authority, and contact the bank or payment provider involved to see what can be recovered.