What Are the Top Risks of Seller Impersonation Fraud? [5 Things Every Homeowner Should Know]

If you’re a homeowner, you probably assume your property is safe as long as you haven’t listed it for sale.

But what if we told you that someone could list your home—without your permission—and even sell it before you found out?

Welcome to the growing threat of seller impersonation fraud.

Let’s break down the top five risks homeowners face—and what you can do to protect yourself.

Unless you're actively monitoring your property, you may not realize anything's wrong—until a stranger knocks on your door thinking they own your home.

That’s why MLS listing fraud protection is more important than ever.

1. You Might Not Know It’s Happening Until It’s Too Late

Scammers don’t announce themselves. They quietly forge documents, fake IDs, and list your property on MLS platforms. In some cases, they’ve made it all the way to closing before the fraud was caught.

And unless you're actively monitoring your property, you may not realize anything's wrong—until a stranger knocks on your door thinking they own your home.

That’s why MLS listing fraud protection is more important than ever.

2. Traditional Title Insurance Doesn’t Stop the Fraud

Title insurance is great, but it only kicks in after the damage is done.

By the time a fraudulent transaction is discovered, you could be facing months (or even years) of legal cleanup.

What’s missing is a real estate fraud monitoring service that gives you alerts before fraudsters get to the closing table.

3. Vacant and Second Homes Are Prime Targets

Seller impersonation scams often target properties that appear unmonitored—like vacation homes, rentals, or lots owned by out-of-state investors. But that doesn’t mean your primary residence is safe.

If you own it, it can be listed. That’s the unfortunate truth.

4. Your Name and Property Details Are Public Record

Scammers don’t need to “hack” anything to impersonate you.

They use publicly available records to find property owners, addresses, and even old signatures. With this info, they forge a new identity—and then disappear with the money.

It’s shockingly easy. And happening more often than most people think.

5. The Financial Fallout Is Devastating

Seller impersonation scams can cost homeowners tens of thousands of dollars in legal fees, not to mention emotional stress and months of disruption.

In some cases, families have had to fight to stay in their homes.

You shouldn’t have to go through that just to prove you own what’s already yours.

What Can You Do?

You can’t stop scammers from trying—but you can stop them from succeeding.

That’s where Leeza.io comes in.

We scan MLS listings and real estate platforms 24/7. If your property is listed without your permission, you get an alert—before anything moves forward.

For less than $15 a month, you can protect your property from being hijacked by someone else.

Learn more and start monitoring your home today

Because no one should have to fight to keep what’s already theirs.