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Housing and rental scams target one of the largest payments most people make. Fake listings and 'overseas landlord' stories take deposits for properties the scammer doesn't control, foreclosure-relief and mortgage-modification schemes charge desperate homeowners for nothing, and real-estate wire fraud diverts house deposits to criminals. Verify ownership independently, never pay before viewing, and always confirm wiring instructions by phone using a number you find yourself.
Fake or hijacked property listings that collect deposits and application fees for homes that are unavailable or non-existent.
Landlords or agents who collect large security deposits and vanish — or invent reasons to withhold them — leaving tenants out of pocket.
Fraudsters who target homeowners facing foreclosure with fake 'rescue' services that take fees and accelerate financial ruin.
Fake services that charge fees to negotiate lower mortgage payments — then deliver nothing while your arrears grow.
Rogue movers who quote low prices then hold belongings hostage for inflated final payments.
Fake resale companies that charge upfront fees to sell your timeshare — and never deliver a buyer.
Impostors posing as property owners who have no right to rent the property, leaving tenants homeless and out of pocket.
Fake or misleading arrangements that promise a path to homeownership but deliver nothing except lost rent.
Scammers intercept property sale communications and substitute fake wiring instructions to divert closing funds.
Fraudulent property-for-sale listings that collect reservation deposits from multiple interested buyers for a property the scammer does not own and has no authority to sell.
Scammers persuade homeowners facing foreclosure to sign over their property under a sale-leaseback or rescue scheme, then strip the equity and evict the family.
Unlicensed removal companies provide an artificially low estimate, then present a dramatically higher bill on moving day and refuse to unload until paid.
Fraudulent rent-to-own schemes that collect large option fees and inflated monthly payments for property that the operator has no authority to sell or transfer.
Fraudsters pose as estate agents or property managers to collect holding deposits on properties they have no authority to let, leaving tenants without a property or their money.
Fraudsters pose as landlords or existing tenants in a shared house to collect deposits and first month's rent for rooms that are already occupied, do not exist, or belong to someone else.