Real estate scams are becoming more common in Silver City and across Grant County, catching consumers off guard. Local REALTORS® are seeing two major issues right now. The first involves scammers pretending to be property owners and trying to list homes or land they do not actually own. The second involves scammers stealing listing photos and using them to create fake rental ads on social media. Both scams look convincing at first glance and can lead to real financial harm if they slip past unnoticed.
The fake seller scam usually targets vacant land, inherited property, or homes owned by people who live out of state. A scammer contacts a broker claiming to be the owner and provides just enough information to seem legitimate. They push to get the property listed quickly and hope to move fast enough that no one questions their identity. Their goal is to get a buyer under contract and disappear with the money before the real owner or anyone else realizes what happened.
The rental scam is hitting renters especially hard. Scammers take photos from legitimate listings and repost them on TikTok, Facebook Marketplace, and other social platforms. They advertise the home at an attractive price and respond quickly to messages. They often insist on deposits before anyone tours the property. Because the photos are real, the posts look believable, and many renters do not realize the listing is fake until it is too late.
Local REALTORS® are working to make consumers aware of what is happening. "These scams are all over social media," says Cassie Carver, President of the Silver City Regional Association of REALTORS®. "I have seen numerous Grant County listings show up on TikTok being offered for rent, even though they were never rentals. It is frustrating, and people are getting caught in situations that could have been avoided."
Consumers can protect themselves by slowing down anytime someone pressures them to act quickly or send money. Be cautious of rental prices that seem unusually low. If you are buying, make sure the person claiming to be the seller truly owns the property. Your local REALTOR® can help verify ownership before you sign anything.
Silver City REALTORS® are committed to keeping our community informed and safe. When something feels off, trust your instincts and reach out to a local broker you know. A quick conversation can prevent a costly mistake.
