As Interest Rates Drop, Real Estate Scams Rise

With interest rates dropping, real estate activity is likely to see a major bump according to those who study it. Unfortunately, scammers are also gearing up to take advantage of the increase in home sales and refinancing. Real estate scams tied to cybersecurity are some of the most financially devastating of them—and they often target buyers right as they’re preparing to close on their dream home.

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• One common scheme is real estate wire fraud. Criminals hack into email accounts of agents or title companies and send fake wire instructions to buyers. Believing the request is legitimate, buyers end up wiring their down payment or closing funds—sometimes hundreds of thousands of dollars or more—straight to the scammer’s account.

• Title fraud is also on the rise. In these cases, criminals forge ownership documents to transfer a property into their own name. Once done, they can take out loans against the home or even try to sell it outright.

• Rental scams are another frequent issue. Fraudsters copy legitimate property listings, repost them with altered contact information, and trick renters into sending deposits or personal information for homes that aren’t actually available or for which they don’t own, manage, or have anything at all to do with.

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To protect yourself, always verify wire transfer details in person or over the phone using a trusted number. Stick to secure portals for sharing sensitive documents. Be wary of listings priced well below market value, and confirm the legitimacy of agents, landlords, and title companies. As the housing market heats up, a few extra precautions can prevent financial heartbreak and keep your real estate transaction safe.

The FBI’s, IC3 unit reported that there were more than 11,000 victims of real estate cybercrime in 2019 resulting in losses of $221.4 million. In addition, they report that cybercriminals either diverted or attempted to wire $969 million from real estate transactions into their own accounts. With a bit of awareness, you can keep your home purchase or refinance from becoming your nightmare.