Home Buyers, Beware: Six Common Scams to Know

Buying a home is one of the most exciting milestones in life. It’s also one of the most stressful. Between packing, inspections, loan paperwork, and closing day itself, there are countless details to juggle. Unfortunately, criminals know this too—and they often target homebuyers with scams designed to take advantage of distraction and confusion.

At Bryant & O’Connor Law Firm in Vidalia, Georgia, we regularly work with clients to ensure their closings are smooth and secure. But we also want to warn buyers about some of the most common scams we see in Georgia real estate so that you know what to look out for and how to protect yourself.

Below are several of the most frequent fraud schemes that target homebuyers, both before and after closing.

1. Wire Fraud During Closing

Wire fraud is the most serious and devastating scam affecting homebuyers today. Here’s how it works:

• Hackers infiltrate or impersonate the email account of a real estate agent, lender, or attorney.
• Shortly before closing, they send “updated” wiring instructions to the buyer.
• The buyer unknowingly wires their down payment or closing funds—often tens of thousands of dollars or more—to a fraudulent account.

Once funds are wired to the scammer’s account, they are almost impossible to recover and you will likely bear the loss.

How to protect yourself:

• Always confirm wiring instructions by calling your attorney’s office directly at a phone number you already know and trust.
• Never rely solely on email for last-minute financial details.
• Remember: At Bryant & O’Connor Law Firm, we will never change wiring instructions by email. If you ever receive a message suggesting otherwise, call us immediately.

2. “Certified Copy of Your Deed” Scam

Not long after closing, many homeowners receive official-looking letters offering to send them a certified copy of their deed or other recorded documents for a fee—sometimes $100 or more.

This is misleading at best and a scam at worst. After your closing, your attorney provides copies of all recorded documents as part of your closing package. In addition, recorded deeds are public record and available from your county clerk’s office for just a few dollars.

How to protect yourself:

• Ignore these mailers.
• Know that your attorney should have provided you with everything you need.
• If you ever need another copy, call your attorney or visit the clerk’s office directly.

3. Fake Home Warranty Offers

Another post-closing scam comes in the form of unsolicited “home warranty” offers. These arrive by mail or phone, sometimes claiming that a warranty is required to protect your new home. In reality, most of these policies are junk coverage or outright fraud.

Home warranties can be useful in some cases, but they are optional and should only be purchased from reputable companies.

How to protect yourself:

• Be skeptical of any warranty “requirement.”
• Research companies before buying.
• Ask your attorney or realtor if you’re unsure about an offer.

4. Mortgage Relief or Payment Change Scams

New homeowners are also targeted with calls or letters claiming that their mortgage lender has changed or that they can reduce their monthly payment by signing up with a third-party company.

These scammers may ask for personal banking details or try to collect “payments” directly. The danger is obvious: if you fall for it, your real lender won’t receive your payments, and you could face foreclosure while also losing money to the scammer.

How to protect yourself:

• Mortgage servicing transfers do happen, but they are communicated directly by your lender with clear documentation.
• If you get a suspicious call, hang up and call your lender at the official number listed on your mortgage documents.

5. Phishing and Identity Theft

Beyond direct financial scams, homebuyers are at higher risk for identity theft. Criminals may send fake loan approval emails, tax refund offers, or even IRS-style forms asking for Social Security numbers or bank information.

Because buyers are used to filling out lots of paperwork during the loan and closing process, it’s easy to mistake a phishing attempt for legitimate communication.

How to protect yourself:

• Never click suspicious links in emails.
• Always log into lender portals directly from their official websites.
• Use strong passwords and two-factor authentication on your email accounts.

6. Property Tax and Homestead Exemption Schemes

Many new homeowners also receive letters offering to file their property tax paperwork or homestead exemption for a hefty fee. These letters often look like they come from the county, complete with seals or official-sounding language.

In Georgia, filing a homestead exemption is free and can be done easily through your county tax assessor’s office. Don’t pay for something that is already simple and free.

How to protect yourself:

• If you receive such a letter, throw it away.
• Call your county tax assessor to ask how to file the exemption.
• Or ask your attorney after closing—we’re glad to refer you to the correct contact.

Practical Steps Every Buyer Should Take

Here are a few general safety practices that can help you avoid fraud throughout the buying process:

1. Verify Before You Act: Whether it’s wiring funds or responding to paperwork, always confirm instructions with a trusted phone call. Get to know someone at the closing attorney’s office early enough in the home buying process so that you have a trusted contact.
2. Don’t Advertise Your Transaction: When you post on social media that you’re buying a home, you make yourself a target.
3. Slow Down: Scammers often rely on creating a false sense of urgency. If someone is pushing you to act immediately, that’s a red flag.
4. Keep Records: Save your emails, closing instructions, and official documents.
5. Use Secure Communication: If your lender offers a secure portal or encrypted email, take advantage of it. Normal email is not a secure way to share bank account information, social security numbers, etc.
6. When in Doubt, Ask: A five-minute call to your attorney can prevent a five-figure loss.

Conclusion: Protect Your Home and Your Wallet

Buying a home should be a joyful experience—not an opportunity for criminals to take advantage of you. Unfortunately, scammers are becoming more sophisticated every year, and real estate transactions present a tempting target.

The good news is that with awareness and a few simple safeguards, you can protect yourself. At Bryant & O’Connor Law Firm, we take client security seriously. Although you personally have responsibility to protect yourself, our goal is to ensure that your home purchase is as safe as it is exciting.

If we are handling your closing and you ever receive wiring instructions, letters, or offers that don’t feel right, call our office before acting. One quick conversation could save you thousands of dollars.