fraud

Through the Ambassadors Foundation, Real Estate Fraud Fighters (REFF) is a unique collaboration between the San Diego County District Attorney’s Real Estate Fraud Unit and the Greater San Diego Association of REALTORS®. The program helps to prevent, detect and report rental and mortgage fraud.

In recent years, online predators have begun duplicating rental ads using real estate listings as bait. These predators target renters and exploit them by asking for large deposits and cash up front. After the money has been exchanged, victims of the online fraud learn that the so-called real estate representative had no true association with the property. In a large number of these cases, the scammers are operating from another country, making prosecution nearly impossible. In some extreme cases, the perpetrators of these crimes will also assume the identity of a local real estate professional to help secure transactions.

​​​​​​​REFF works with agents, lenders, escrow companies, title companies and many others in the real estate industry to stay ahead of the ever-changing tactics of scammers seeking to victimize San Diego residents. REFF also provides educational tools and resources to help REALTORS® and consumers detect the warning signs of rental and real estate fraud.