The email, which was seen by Cyber Daily, was sent from an email address claiming to be from Jalin Realty. The email, which was from an address not found on the legitimate Jalin Realty website, asked users to access a document titled “Draft Project Proposal and Payment Supporting Documents”. It also provided a link to a development URL, which it claimed was its “secure portal”.
“This message is a company broadcast provided for informational and preliminary review purposes only. The materials are non-binding and shared to support discussion and evaluation,” the email said.
“You are receiving this email because a file was shared with you,” it added, despite the recipient observed by Cyber Daily having no affiliation with the real estate firm.
To confirm whether or not this was indeed a scam, Cyber Daily reached out to Jalin Realty, although representatives declined to comment on the matter. The legitimacy of the email was not confirmed.
Part of a wider trend
Real estate scams are indeed on the rise, particularly as technologies like AI lower the barrier of entry for cyber criminals.
According to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC), the amount of money victims lost to property scams increased from $13 million in 2021 to $43.2 million in 2024.
Additionally, a report by PEXA found that 97 per cent of Australians who had purchased property in the last 12 months or intended to buy in the next year failed to spot scams in property transactions.
While common scams like phishing and business email compromise (BEC) are still a concern, scammers are more sophisticated than ever and tailor scams to victims and the industry. Like all scams, these criminals work on urgency, promising an amazing deal or stressing that not going ahead with their deal will lead to colossal damage.
Mortgage relief scams
One real estate scam is mortgage and foreclosure relief schemes, where cyber criminals promise loan modifications or relief on mortgage payments, but demand high upfront fees.
Scammers will target those who are feeling the financial strain of mortgage payments and risk foreclosure, with some even convincing home owners to sign the deed of their house over to them. As expected, the scammers do not deliver on their promises.
If a deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Always reach out to certified housing counsellors and mortgage servicers for assistance, avoid any upfront payments and only pay once a service has been delivered, and do not be pressured to declare bankruptcy to avoid foreclosure.
Deed and title fraud
Scammers can steal more than just your money and will go after your home. In deed and title fraud scams, cyber criminals transfer property ownership without the legal owner’s consent, resulting in the loss of home title.
This is sometimes done using a fake title to “sell” to a home buyer, while in other cases, they will go as far as identity fraud. The former method is most common with vacant and unoccupied property and land.
To stay safe, regularly check your property title and verify any changes to spot fraudulent activity. Secure your personal data to prevent identity fraud, and if required, invest in title insurance. When buying title insurance, do your research and keep points from the previous scam in mind.
Rental listing scams
Similar to the last scam, scammers list fake properties in an effort to encourage potential renters to hand over deposits and other funds. This is often done with attractive listings at low prices, with the threat actors demanding upfront payments before you can even see the property.
Once again, don’t make any upfront payments, use secure payment methods and avoid wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency payments. Research the property and its ownership and rental company, and physically inspect the property before handing over any money.
Daniel Croft