Recognize the pattern
How it starts
Property listings, urgent agency instructions or closing messages.
The promise
The owner needs cash; a deposit today secures the discount.
What happens next
Public property records and stolen identity documents make a false sale look real, directing payment to an unrelated account.
Signs to watch for
- Online-only contact and rushed closing
- Identity and recipient do not match
- Rejects independent ownership checks
Start with what you can do now
If this happened to you
Pause the sale and remaining payments
Alert your bank and agent
Give police identity documents, fund destinations and a timeline
What to save
Keep the original records. Use copies to organize the details.
- Listing and agency instructions
- Ownership and identity checks
- Contract and deposit demands
- Recipient account and payment receipt
Before you send money
- Verify the owner and the agent’s authority through independent records.
- Use a qualified local professional to review the transaction.
- Confirm payment instructions with the title or escrow company using a known number.
These guides explain common patterns. The facts of your situation and your payment provider’s rules determine which steps are available.