The Call That Could Cost You $300,000: How to Spot a Real Estate Scam

By Adam Martin Team Lead, Loxley Martin | Top-Rated Dayton & Greene County Realtor

It is the horror story that keeps every real estate agent awake at night. A seller receives an email that looks exactly like it came from their title company. It says: "Here are the updated wiring instructions for your proceeds." They wire the money. And then... silence. The money is gone. The email was fake. And there is no way to get it back. As technology gets smarter, scammers are getting bolder. In Ohio, we are seeing a rise in sophisticated fraud targeting homeowners, sellers, and buyers. These aren't just "Nigerian Prince" emails anymore. These are coordinated attacks using public data to steal your equity. Here are the Top 3 Real Estate Scams happening right now in the Dayton area, and the specific protocols my team uses to make sure you never become a victim.

1. The "Wire Fraud" Trap (The Big One)

This is the most financially devastating scam in the industry. How it works: Hackers monitor the email accounts of real estate agents and title companies. They wait until you are days away from closing. Then, they send an email from an address that looks legitimate (e.g., closing@title-company.com instead of closing@titlecompany.com). The email creates urgency: "Last minute change! Wire your closing funds to this new account immediately or closing will be delayed." The Loxley Martin Protocol:

• NEVER trust an email with money instructions.
  
  
• The "Voice Verification" Rule: Before you wire a single penny, you must call the title company on a verified phone number (not the one in the email) to confirm the numbers with a human being.
  
  
• My Promise: I will never email you wiring instructions. If you get one from "me," it’s a scam.
  
  

2. The "Deed Fraud" Nightmare

This is terrifying because you might not know it happened until it's too late. How it works: Scammers file a fraudulent Quitclaim Deed at the county recorder’s office, forging your signature to transfer ownership of your home to their LLC. They then sell the house to an unsuspecting investor or take out a loan against it. Because county recorders are required to record documents that look valid, they often don't catch the forgery immediately. How to Protect Yourself:

• Monitor Your Mail: If you stop receiving property tax bills or water bills, investigate immediately.
  
  
• County Alerts: Many Ohio counties (like Montgomery and Greene) offer free Property Fraud Alerts. You can sign up to get an email anytime a document is recorded with your name on it. Go sign up today.
  
  

3. The "Unsolicited Buyer" & Wholesaler Trap

We covered this in the "Cash Offer" post, but it bears repeating. How it works: You get a text or letter offering to buy your home "As Is" for cash. Some of these are legitimate investors, but many are unlicensed "wholesalers" or scammers.

• The Scam: They get you to sign a contract, but they have no money. They try to "assign" (sell) the contract to a real investor for a fee. If they can't find one, they walk away using a loophole, leaving your house off the market for months.
  
  
• The Risk: Some use misleading disclosure forms to trick you into admitting faults that don't exist, driving your price down further.
  
  

The Bottom Line

Real estate transactions involve huge sums of money and public records. That makes you a target. You need a "Human Firewall." My job isn't just to market your home; it is to verify every person, every document, and every email that touches your transaction. If something feels "off," it probably is. Call me. Don't click it.

Worried About Your Title?

Scared about Deed Fraud? I can help you check the county records to ensure your title is clean and show you exactly where to sign up for fraud alerts in your specific county. 👉 Stay Safe. Send me a message or DM "SAFE" and I’ll send you the fraud alert links for Greene & Montgomery counties. Adam Martin Team Lead, Loxley Martin Your Dayton & Greene County Real Estate Expert