Scam Alert: The Most Common Real Estate Frauds in Florida

Florida’s booming real estate market has long attracted investors, retirees, and first-time homebuyers. But it’s also become a breeding ground for increasingly sophisticated scams—some targeting homeowners, others going after buyers, and many exploiting the gaps in digital transactions and public record systems.

These scams aren’t just occasional flukes either. They’re growing in frequency and complexity, costing us Floridians millions in losses and dragging innocent people into legal chaos over titles, deeds, and fraudulent wire transfers. The worst part? Many victims don’t even realize they’ve been targeted until it’s too late to recover their money—or their property rights.

1. Title/Deed Fraud (“Title Pirates”)

Fraudsters are increasingly stealing Florida homes by forging title documents. In one recent Tampa case, a pair posing as the owners filed fake quit-claim deeds to transfer multiple houses into their names, then tried to sell or mortgage them. Victims often notice odd mail or utilities changes (as when the scammer in that case had registered at the owner’s address), but sometimes the fraud is detected only by a court’s new deed-alert system. Florida has even coined the term “title pirates” for these criminals.

The scam works by searching public records for unguarded or absentee-owned property, forging documents or IDs, and recording fake ownership transfers at the county clerk’s office. New state laws now let homeowners sign up for alerts on any deeds filed in their name, a measure credited with stopping one Tampa land scam before any money changed hands. Such alert systems have helped catch several syndicates who swiped properties via bogus deeds.

2. Fake Online Listings (Zillow/Home For-Sale Scams)

Scammers have started hijacking online real estate sites to dupe buyers. In mid-2022, crooks listed a $2.3 million Jacksonville home on Zillow for just $21,000, a classic “too-good-to-be-true” ploy. The bogus listing used the owner’s photos and claimed a charitable tax writeoff sale for first-time buyers, but required victims to wire a $2,000 “deposit” (via Zelle) before touring the property. Unsuspecting buyers sent funds and often never saw a house or got their money back.

News reports show these scams rake in deposits from dozens of duped buyers before platforms take down the ads. The thieves’ pitch always involves an explanation for the steep discount (such as a family helping first-time buyers) and instructions to pay quickly online, often refusing any agents or lawyers. Real estate professionals now warn Floridians to verify ownership and not pay any deposits before seeing a home in person or confirming with the actual listing agent.

3. Wire Fraud at Closing (Escrow/Email Scams)

Buyers can also lose money to schemes that hijack closing funds. In a typical scam, criminals hack or spoof email accounts of a title company or realtor, then send altered wiring instructions at the last moment. A Florida homebuyer might dutifully wire a down payment or closing costs, only to have those funds diverted into the scammer’s account.

In Florida, local news has repeatedly documented families losing tens of thousands when email hackers “pose” as the title company and reorder wire transfers. Victims in Orlando reported losing $38,000 this way before recovering only a fraction. Experts urge buyers to always call and verbally confirm wire instructions with a trusted closing agent, not by replying to email alone. Banks and courts say once the money is gone, it is usually unrecoverable, so vigilance at closing is critical.

4. Vacant Land and “Dirt” Scams

Florida’s rural and undeveloped areas have spawned new scams targeting land buyers. In one Palm Beach County case (Jupiter Farms), a scammer pretended to be a landowner and signed a listing agreement to sell 10 acres. Buyers showed interest and even wired $35,000 into escrow, but a diligent realty agent smelled something was off and halted the deal. The title company’s fraud-alert checks revealed fake IDs and a bogus signature on the deed, stopping a potential $350,000 wire to the con artist.

These “dirt scams” often start with the crook combing public records for owners of vacant lots, especially those who live out of state or out of the county. They then pose as those owners and list the land for sale. If buyers aren’t careful, they can lose deposit money or even end up in lawsuits over the title. Florida Realtors and TV stations now warn: always meet the seller in person, verify ownership via county records or fraud-alert services, and never wire money for a land deal before every document checks out.

5. AI/Deepfake Impersonation Scam

As real estate transactions have gone digital, fraudsters have begun using AI-generated videos to impersonate buyers or sellers. In one 2024 Florida case, scammers used a photo of a missing woman to create an AI-driven video persona on a Zoom call with a title company. In that Hallandale Beach incident, the “seller” (presented via AI deepfake) claimed to be the owner of a vacant lot. Title company staff noticed inconsistencies, such as tax bills being mailed to the Bahamas while the fake seller said she lived in West Virginia.

They quickly realized the video was not a real person and demanded live “proof of life” such as an unplanned video chat or spontaneous questions, causing the imposter to vanish. Had the fraudster not been caught, a buyer would have lost about $250,000 on the bogus sale. To avoid this sophisticated scam, always verify identities beyond a video clip. Title agents now routinely require live video calls with the actual owner holding a photo ID. Buyers should confirm seller details match public records and be wary of strange payment methods or refusals to meet in person.

Watch Out!

What makes these scams especially dangerous is how seamlessly they blend into legitimate real estate transactions. They exploit speed, trust, and technology. In many cases, buyers or sellers think they’re working with verified professionals or communicating with actual owners, only to find out too late that they’ve been defrauded by someone who knew how to mimic all the right signs.

Florida has made some strides in protecting consumers, including fraud alert registries and new ID verification procedures. But ultimately, vigilance is personal. Always double-check documents, verify identities through trusted sources, and never rush a transaction, no matter how good the deal seems. Staying skeptical, informed, and cautious is your best defense in an increasingly digital real estate world.