Buying a property means sharing personal information, signing important documents and moving large sums of money. Most of the time it all runs smoothly. But warning signs can appear at any stage, and knowing what they look like is part of buying with confidence.
Australians reported losing more than $2 billion to scams in 2025, according to the National Anti-Scam Centre's Targeting Scams Report. Figures are as reported and indicative only.
Technology has made property transactions faster and more convenient. It has also given scammers more ways in, and their methods keep changing. A few simple checks go a long way towards protecting your money.
Rental Listing Scams
Scammers sometimes create fake private rental listings, usually on consumer trading websites. The warning signs tend to repeat: rent that looks unusually low for the area, pressure to secure the property quickly, and a landlord who avoids or refuses an in-person inspection.
Take particular care if you're asked to pay a bond, rent or a holding deposit before you've inspected the property or completed the proper paperwork. A genuine landlord or agent will expect you to see the place first.
Payment Redirection Scams
This is the one that matters most when you're buying. You receive an email that appears to come from someone involved in your purchase, with updated payment instructions or new bank details. These emails can look almost identical to genuine correspondence, which is what makes them dangerous.
A PEXA survey for its Settlement Scams Index found many Australians struggled to identify fraudulent email addresses in test emails. Before you transfer a deposit or settlement funds, confirm the account details independently, using a phone number you already know is genuine rather than one supplied in the email.
Warning Signs Worth A Closer Look
None of these automatically means something is wrong, but each one is a reason to pause before you go any further:
- Pressure to pay immediately. Genuine parties rarely need your money within the hour.
- Requests for money before an inspection. Especially for rentals advertised privately.
- Changes to payment instructions or bank details. Treat any change as unverified until you've confirmed it by phone.
- Difficulty verifying who you're dealing with. If you can't confirm someone's identity, don't send funds.
- Unusual email addresses. Small spelling changes in a familiar address are a common tactic.
- Communication that doesn't match earlier contact. A change in tone, timing or channel is worth questioning.
Simple Steps To Protect Yourself
- Stop. Check. Protect. Scamwatch's three-step approach is a useful habit before any payment.
- Slow down. Avoid making financial decisions under time pressure.
- Verify by phone. Confirm payment details using a number you already trust.
- Watch for Confirmation of Payee alerts. If your bank flags that the account name doesn't match, stop and check.
- Be careful with links. Don't click links in unexpected emails or text messages.
- Use trusted payment platforms. Choose secure, established channels where they're available.
- Research rental listings. Check the property and the advertiser before sending any funds.
- Contact your bank quickly. If something seems wrong, call them as soon as possible.
Timing matters on that last point. The sooner your bank knows, the better the chance of stopping or recovering a payment.
Where A Broker Fits In
A purchase involves a lot of steps between the first finance application and settlement, and knowing what to expect at each one makes it far easier to notice when something is off. Getting pre-approval sorted early means you know exactly who you're dealing with on the finance side long before any money changes hands.
If you're choosing who to work with, the questions worth asking a broker include how they'll keep you informed through to settlement. For the wider market picture, see this month's update, and if it's your first purchase, we've covered how a slower market could work in your favour.
