Real estate scams are on the rise. One con to be aware of is seller impersonation fraud, in which criminals sell owners’ property without their knowledge. Here are a few things you can do to find out if you’ve become a victim of fraud:

Confirm Forwarding Address

Many scammers target unoccupied properties such as vacant lots, 第二套住房, or short-term rental properties. If you do not live at the property, double-check that the appraisal district has the correct forwarding address.

设置谷歌提醒

To create an alert for your property, sign into your Google account, go to 谷歌.com/alerts, and add your name and address. You’ll get an email when there is a matching search result.

检查活动

Make a habit of searching for your property on the market. Some appraisal districts and third-party sites, such as Zillow, Trulia, and realtor.com, offer automatic alerts or email notifications for property activity.

If you suspect you are a victim, reach out to the title company and the brokerage “销售” the property, 然后联系警察.