Columbus REALTORS® Fraud & Safety Alerts
The following are alerts reported by members about suspect behavior and/or outright crimes. Please be extra careful! Employ the 10-second rule when you arrive at a property. Lock the door front door when you enter a property. Take precautions when at an open house. Use Forewarn. And, most importantly, learn how to protect yourself.
What to do about online rental scams.
10/31/25
A prospective client contacted a member via email. This individual initially wanted to meet via Zoom, but Forewarn could not find the provided phone number. The REALTOR® suggested via email that they would prefer to meet over the phone first, then move to Zoom. The prospective client/emailer did not respond. The area code of this number was (385).
10/17/25
A member was contacted via a lead from their brokerage website. The individual said they were from the Springfield area and they wanted to schedule a showing at a luxury home. He requested that the REALTOR text a photo of their business card to him so he would know what the individual looked like when they met. Before doing that, the member ran the number through the FOREWARN app, and the person had multiple charges of rape, gross sexual imposition, and stalking charges. The agent blocked the number. Always run new leads through Forewarn prior to meeting in person.
8/11/25
Attention Union County REALTORS®
A "potential buyer" reached out to an agent through one of the major portals. They were interested in selling a large property (over 20 acres) in Magnetic Springs, Ohio, but when they messaged the REALTOR® through the portal, they used the Township (Leesburg) instead of the town name in the description (first red flag). The individual communicated with the REALTOR® through email but was unwilling to meet, and the phone number provided was from out of state. The REALTOR® did some digging and found the owner of the property and learned that this was an unauthorized sale attempt. The Union County sheriff was contacted.
7/23/25
Attention New Albany REALTORS®
A "potential buyer" has been reaching out to multiple agents through one of the major portals targeting high-end properties, primarily in New Albany. He has asked agents to write offers on these properties, but after checking his history in FOREWARN, a violent criminal history is revealed. Please use caution when receiving leads. Utilize Forewarn to screen all unknown leads.
7/23/25
Local REALTOR® reports a potential land/property scam attempt in Muskingum County
Another potential land/property scam was reported to us by a local agent. They were contacted by phone and wanted the agent to quickly list a property in Muskingum County. It was a small home with over 80 acres of land. They wanted it listed immediately in the MLS. They went by the name of the owner but the voice of the person on the phone did not match the gender of the name. That was the first red flag. The agent followed up and found the contact information of the actual property owner, spoke with that person, who was unaware that their property was trying to be sold out from under them, and also contacted the authorities. This is an excellent example of how to handle a suspicious lead. Do some research (Forewarn), contact local authorities, and contact your local real estate association.
4/16/25
We had a report from a member who was contacted about the possibility of purchasing some of their investment properties. After screening this person in FOREWARN, a number of concerning past records were found, all occurring outside the state of Ohio. This is a reminder to please use Forewarn to screen those who reach out to you via cold calls and leads. If you encounter any concerning results, you can reach out to Columbus REALTORS to report. We will not reveal identities but we will give general alerts such as this.
3/10/25
Be aware of Roofing Scams on Listed Properties
Listing agents and brokers should be aware of a scheme targeting listed properties. Acting as the property owner, the scammer contacts roofers to request a quote for a replacement. The scammer may pay the roofer an upfront fee, usually with a stolen credit card, with the understanding that the roofer will pay the scammer, whom they believe to be the homeowner, the difference after the insurance payout. This scam relies on the roofer not verifying the identity of the homeowner. There have been instances where a roof has been put on a home that is for sale without the homeowner’s or listing agent’s knowledge. If you receive an inquiry from a roofing company, please return that call or email.
1/4/25
Attempted Land Acquisition Fraud in Union County
Multiple members reported that an individual proclaiming to be the owner of a vacant property in an established housing development in Union County was reaching out to REALTORS asking them to list the property for sale. This individual said that they were hearing impaired and they could not speak on the phone. They wanted to communicate via text message. Forewarn was not able to verify the name of the landowner. They did send state identification and a deed. The identification turned out to be fraudulent. This property was listed briefly in the MLS before it was canceled by the listing agent. Multiple agents were contacted until the individual found someone willing to list the property. This is a reminder to research any leads that come your way prior to listing a property.
1/2/25
Attempted Fraud in Heath, Ohio (Licking County) Impersonating the land owner
A member entered into a listing agreement on a property in Heath. The individual was impersonating the landowner. The listing agent quickly canceled the listing in the MLS after learning that the "seller" was not who they said they were. This is a reminder to do your due diligence and research public records and the deed prior to listing. It is also strongly encouraged to have a face-to-face meeting with the seller via Zoom, Facetime, or in-person (use caution).
1/24/25
Fraudulent Proof of Funds, Attempting to take possession of a home
There have been multiple reports of an individual in Newark, Ohio, who has entered into contracts with several agents. This person has provided proof of funds from various financial institutions and, in this particular case, submitted a check for earnest money that subsequently bounced. It appears that the individual’s goal was to take possession of the home before the closing was complete, potentially to squat. Local authorities in Licking County have been notified, and the Licking County Board of REALTORS is aware of the situation. Please be cautious if you are contacted via a lead from one of the major real estate websites regarding an all-cash offer in Newark, Ohio. We remind all members to utilize the complimentary FOREWARN app available to all MLS subscribers.
12/20/24
Ex-con threatening REALTORS after denying a showing appointment
We have become aware of a Columbus area man recently released from prison for murder who has been contacting Realtors to “sell a property.” In one known instance, the agent used Forewarn and declined his appointment. He then contacted another Realtor for the appointment, which was also declined after assessing the risk. He has followed those cancellations by leaving threatening voicemails to the agents/brokerage. The agents have contacted local authorities.
12/13/24
Imposter attempts to hire a contractor to install a new roof on a just-listed property
In this case, a roofer was called and offered $15,000 to replace the roof on a property on the east side of Columbus. No repairs or replacements were started, and fortunately, the roofer did reach out to the listing agent to check the validity of the job. Educate your sellers and make them aware that they could be the target of home-repair scams such as these.
9/6/24
Contractors sent to do work by an imposter "seller"
In Champaign County, a seller has stopped three different contractors from either taking estimates or attempting repairs after they claimed "the seller" directed them to this site. This activity was reported to local authorities.
8/26/24
Failed to Appear in Court Scam
A REALTOR® member received a call to their spouses' cell phone alerting them to the fact that their spouse failed to appear in court and there was a warrant out for their arrest. The caller stated that they were served papers at their real estate office and the subpoena was signed for. The caller directed them to stay on the line and drive to a location and pay the fine of $2,200 immediately. The REALTOR® called the Franklin County Sheriff's office and there was no record of a subpoena or court date. The member said the caller spoke very fast and sounded very official with case numbers and specific details about the alleged court case. Please be wary of any caller who makes demands and asks you to "remain on the line" or "complete a task". These are red flags. You should hang up and call authorities immediately.
7/26/24
Stalling, Lack of Funds, Bounced Checks: Be aware of this potential "buyer"
A REALTOR® member was contacted by a potential cash buyer. The individual said they had previously worked with another agent, and the relationship went south. The REALTOR told the individual they would need to find out if they had a buyer representation agreement with that agent. The individual told the REALTOR that the agreement was terminated and that proof was presented in writing.
After showing the potential buyer five properties, an offer was submitted and accepted on a property in New Albany. This is when the individual began using stalling tactics - namely that the individual was waiting on funds to transfer from a family member's account before he could wire or show proof of funds. They were told they had to provide proof of funds within three days. That did not happen. Also, the earnest money collected through an app ended up bouncing.
The excuses continued, and the individual eventually submitted a check to a title company, but that check bounced.
This does not appear to be an isolated incident with this individual. The REALTOR has proof that similar attempts to acquire possession of a home have been made recently. Please be aware of potential buyers making frequent excuses or blatantly stalling. Also of note, this individual was run through FOREWARN prior to beginning the relationship, and there were no “red flags.” We encourage all members to utilize FOREWARN, but remember, it is not guaranteed.
7/24/24
Facebook Marketplace "Rental Property" Scam on active MLS listing
A member reported a scam being committed on one of their current MLS listings. Photos and information posted in the MLS have been stolen and the property was listed on Facebook Marketplace as a rental unit for $800 per month. This person unlawfully gained access to the property and was letting potential “renters” view the property. One potential renter attempted to send the requested $800 to the imposter but the bank intercepted the transfer and flagged it as fraudulent before it was completed. This incident underscores the potential risk of fraudulent activity in our industry.
Please monitor your listed properties closely and check sites like Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist often for potentially fraudulent activity.
If you encounter any fraudulent activity, please report it to local law enforcement first, then feel free to contact Columbus REALTORS so we can inform the membership.
4/18/24
Fraud Alert: Pranksters are scheduling jobs with contractors on homes that are for sale
A member reported three separate instances where contractors were called and arrived at homes to complete work that was not scheduled by the homeowner. In one instance, a roofer was scheduled to replace an existing roof and in other instances landscaping work was scheduled. When cross-referenced in Forewarn, the phone number that was given to the contractors did indicate any past fraudulent activity, nor was it attached to an owner.
3/8/24
Fraud Alert: Buyer claims $40 million inheritance.
In February, an individual contacted a local REALTOR® about purchasing a $1.5 million home with money that they had recently inherited from an Uncle. They had pre-approval documents (that were found to be fraudulent) and proceeded to closing before no-showing. They came up with a story about why they could not be there and asked the agent to try again. They were told to show proof of financing from a local bank, as the previous funding was from an out-of-state bank. They returned with new (falsified) documents from a local bank, but the agent was uneasy and conducted a background check where a history of fraud was found. It was later learned that this individual was attempting the same scam with another central Ohio REALTOR® from a different brokerage. The broker was advised by Columbus REALTORS® staff to contact local authorities. We encourage our members to please utilize FOREWARN, a service that is free to all members. Do your due diligence before things get too far.
10/26/23
You Won an Award from NAR
On Oct. 25, a local REALTOR® member was contacted by an unknown number. The caller identified themself as an employee of NAR and told the REALTOR® that she was the recipient of a real estate award. The caller also knew the broker’s name and was familiar with her current listings. The caller told the individual that a part of the award was a gift package from Nike. The caller asked for her sizing. After informing her of the “award,” the caller's tone turned more sexually suggestive, pressuring the REALTOR® to have a video call while also asking her to visit a website. The REALTOR® ended the call after that exchange and did not visit the website.
This is a reminder to all REALTORS® to be careful when taking unknown calls and remove yourself from unwanted or awkward situations as soon as possible. Your safety is important to us. Please be sure to download and install FOREWARN. This free member application can detect potentially dangerous individuals by running a public records background check on their name or phone number.
10/10/23
Unwanted Explicit Texts
We have received multiple reports that follow the same pattern. A “prospective buyer” texts a REALTOR® to inquire about a vacant property. The “prospective buyer” gives a female alias as their name and continues texting with the REALTOR® to schedule a time to view the listing. After multiple texts have been exchanged, a text follows of a more explicit nature, describing a sexual encounter. After that text, sexually explicit images followed some of the time.
These have all come from different phone numbers; to this point, these numbers have yet to produce any leads or information regarding identity through FOREWARN. These are likely Google Voice numbers being created and quickly deleted to not leave a trace.
If you receive a “cold lead” via text, please proceed cautiously. A FOREWARN membership is provided to you as a subscriber to the MLS. You can create your account HERE.
9/12/23
WhatsApp Crypto Scammer
Multiple members have reported that they have been contacted by an interested "broker" from California searching for a 1.5 million property in a Columbus suburb. The key is that they only want to communicate via WhatsApp, and they want to purchase the home using cryptocurrency. One alias that he gave was the name "Carl Lee". Please be aware of anyone who only wants to communicate through an app or who won't speak on the phone directly.
5/18/23
Fake Title Owner Tries to Sell Property They Don't Own
Local authorities in Delaware County have requested that we alert the membership to recent activities involving identity theft and attempted fraudulent property sales. The suspect purports to own a property at XXXXX E. State Route 37 in Sunbury. The suspect begins the process with a phone call but insists that all business is conducted via text messaging from that point on. Local detectives are working to identify and apprehend this individual. The real owner of the property is aware of the situation and is also working with local authorities. If you receive an inquiry about this property, please contact Detective Steven Ridenour at the Delaware County Sheriff’s Office, 740-833-2810 Ext: 3823.
3/13/23
Scammer using listing to illegally apply for government assistance
An agent reported that someone is using their new listing at XXX Parsons Avenue (two vacant lots) to fraudulently apply for government assistance, i.e., foods stamps benefits, etc., using her name and their email address. The agent that we share this information with other agents so that they are on the lookout for this type of fraudulent activity.
8/24/22
Suspicious Phone Call
A female agent received a phone call from a man calling himself "Timmy" from a "no caller ID" line wanting to know what areas she sells real estate in. "Timmy" knew how long the agent had been selling and claimed he was pre-approved to purchase a 2 story, 4 bedroom, 2 bath home with 2 car garage at least 3500 square feet up to $3.5M. He wanted to know where the agent was currently working from and wanted her to walk away from any nearby people - asking if she was working from home or in an office. "Timmy" claimed that he worked two jobs and was going to text his information. He then proceeded to say his former agent died last year from cancer and that she "wore flip flops and sandals" along with shorts to his showings and he wanted to know what the agent he was calling would be wearing. She tried to get him off the phone politely, but he asked if he could tell her "a couple more things" and asked that she move away from her desk where others couldn't hear and go to the bathroom to talk. The agent quickly hung up the phone. Since we do not have a phone number to share, the agent wanted others to be aware of what all the conversation entailed.
