California is seeing a surge in deed fraud and cybercrime tied to real estate transactions, according to a recent National Association of Realtors survey. Scammers are exploiting online systems to forge documents, create fake notary stamps, and impersonate property owners to steal titles or sell homes and land they don’t own. Vacant lots and investment properties are among the biggest targets, with reports of criminals in Santa Clara County and across the state tricking real estate agents into listing fraudulent properties for fast cash sales.
At the same time, FBI data shows mortgage wire fraud scams are exploding, with losses ballooning from less than $9 million in 2015 to over $446 million in 2022. Homebuyers are particularly vulnerable, with cybercriminals sending fake emails posing as agents or lenders to reroute down payments into scam accounts. These cases highlight how quickly Californians can lose their homes or life savings to increasingly sophisticated schemes, often without realizing it until it’s too late.
This story was first reported by paloaltoonline.com
