Protecting Northern Nevada Homeowners from Real Estate Scams: Lessons and Best Practices We’ve Learned & Wish to Share

Real Estate In Nevada LLC & Rick Eaton (Managing Member & Retired Law Enforcement)

 Over the past several years, we’ve seen a noticeable increase in scams affecting property owners, property managers, homeowners, and tenants here in Northern Nevada—often involving real properties, real addresses, and real financial losses. These aren’t just headlines from elsewhere; they are situations occurring in our own communities and within the real estate environment we all work in.

 For most homeowners, their property represents their largest investment. Unfortunately, that also makes it an appealing target for deceptive activity such as fake rental listings, impersonation attempts, phishing messages, and payment fraud.

 We’ve personally encountered situations where legitimate local rental listings were copied and reposted using the same photos but advertised at drastically reduced prices. The individual behind the fraudulent post posed as the owner and attempted to collect deposits and personal information from unsuspecting applicants. We’ve also seen properties exploited even when owners were not actively renting, simply through the reuse of older listing photos and publicly available data.

 We’ve spoken directly with individuals who were both financially and emotionally impacted by these experiences, which is why we’ve tried to be more intentional about prevention.

Warning Signs We’ve Noticed

 • Prospective tenants offering money before seeing the property

• Requests to bypass normal screening procedures

• Offers to overpay or prepay to create urgency

• Requests for wire transfers or unusual payment methods

• Messages seeking login credentials or financial information

Protective Practices That Have Helped Us

 • Conducting full tenant screening (identity, credit, income, references)

• Using secure, traceable payment platforms

• Communicating through reputable listing and management systems

• Limiting the amount of personal data shared publicly

What We’ve Started Doing in Our Brokerage

 With the increase in deceptive activity, we’ve added a few practical safeguards that have proven helpful:

 • We now watermark all rental listing photos (other than MLS) with our office phone number across the images, which makes it harder for bad actors to reuse them in fraudulent ads.

• We post physical scam-warning notices at rental properties, advising the public how to verify legitimate listings and where to find accurate contact information.

• We encourage anyone who encounters a suspicious listing involving one of our properties to contact us directly before sending money or personal information.

 These aren’t theoretical ideas—they’re steps we’ve used in real situations that have helped prevent confusion and reduce risk for both owners and applicants.

Where to Report Fraud (Nevada Resources)

 If fraudulent activity is suspected, it can help to report it promptly to:

 • Your local law enforcement agency

• FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3): https://www.ic3.gov

• Federal Trade Commission: https://reportfraud.ftc.gov

• Nevada Attorney General’s Office: https://ag.nv.gov → Consumer Complaints

 Early reporting doesn’t always resolve every situation, but it can improve the chances of limiting damage and may help protect others as well.

Our Perspective

 The goal isn’t fear—it’s awareness. Most transactions are legitimate and go smoothly. Still, we’ve found that informed homeowners and professionals are better equipped to spot issues early and avoid unnecessary problems.

 At Real Estate In Nevada LLC, we see this as part of being good stewards of our clients’ trust. We’re sharing these experiences simply in case they are helpful to others in our industry. If something feels off, it’s worth slowing down, asking questions, and trusting your instincts.

Disclosure

 This article is provided for general informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute legal advice, law enforcement guidance, financial advice, or security services. Real Estate In Nevada LLC and its representatives are not acting as a substitute for law enforcement, legal counsel, or investigative professionals. While we share practical observations and risk-reduction practices based on real-world experience, readers should consult qualified professionals and report suspected criminal activity directly to appropriate authorities. No outcomes are guaranteed.