$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
property tax payment redirect scam
Scammers send fake property tax notices directing homeowners to pay overdue or delinquent taxes to a fraudulent account, often threatening liens or penalties for non-payment.
“real estate scam”
↑ 282%Key indicators
Usually targetsHomebuyers
Often hitsFreelancers and contractors
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$126K
median reported loss
Typical range$18K – $720K
Recovery rate~10%
Annual reports9,521
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers use public property records to identify homeowners and their addresses.
2
They send convincing fake tax delinquency notices by email or mail, directing payment to a fraudulent bank account.
3
The threat of tax liens and penalties creates urgency that pushes homeowners to pay quickly without verifying.
What to do first
Verify any tax notice by contacting your county tax assessor's office directly using the number from their official website.
Related terms
fake tax notice scamproperty tax wire fraudcounty tax impersonationReal estate wire fraudEmailRisingHomebuyersFirst-time buyersFreelancers and contractorsSmall business ownersPayroll, HR, and finance teamsUnited StatesCanadafake tax notice scamproperty tax wire fraud
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Rebecca, 35, a homebuyers, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate real estate wire fraud situation while using Email. Scammers use public property records to identify homeowners and their addresses.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: They send convincing fake tax delinquency notices by email or mail, directing payment to a fraudulent bank account.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: The threat of tax liens and penalties creates urgency that pushes homeowners to pay quickly without verifying.
The outcome
Rebecca realized something was wrong when a property tax notice arrives by email when your county normally sends paper notices. By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Verify any tax notice by contacting your county tax assessor's office directly using the number from their official website. Rebecca's experience shows why a property tax notice arrives by email when your county normally sends paper notices and the notice threatens immediate penalties or a lien if payment is not wired within days are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- A property tax notice arrives by email when your county normally sends paper notices
- The notice threatens immediate penalties or a lien if payment is not wired within days
- Payment is requested via wire transfer rather than through the county's official website or mail
- Pause before paying, clicking, or sharing information. Scammers rely on speed.
- Verify the sender, company, or agency using a phone number or website you already know is legitimate.
- Treat secrecy, urgency, and off-platform payment requests as strong scam signals.
What to do now
- ✓Verify any tax notice by contacting your county tax assessor's office directly using the number from their official website.
- ✓Pay property taxes only through your county's official payment portal or by mail to the address on your original tax bill.
- ✓Report fake tax notices to your county assessor's office and the FTC.
What to save before reporting
- ✓Save the message, profile, phone number, email, or URL that was used.
- ✓Keep payment confirmations, receipts, and account alerts before you dispute or delete anything.
- ✓Write down the timeline while the details are still fresh.
- ✓Keep the full sender address, domain, attachments, and—if possible—the raw email headers.
How big is this problem
You are not alone — this scam affects millions of people.
These numbers come from government agencies and official reports. If you have been affected, know that this is a widespread problem — not something that only happens to careless people.
FTC 2024 fraud losses
Imposters
Most common FTC fraud category in 2024
FTC says imposter scams remained the most commonly reported fraud category in 2024.
History and evolution
- This scam family tends to persist because the social-engineering pressure works even when the exact scripts, platforms, and payment methods change.
- The specific packaging evolves over time, but the core pattern usually stays the same: create urgency, control the channel, and push action before verification.
- County tax offices across the U.S. have issued consumer warnings about fraudulent property tax notices, particularly targeting new homebuyers unfamiliar with the process.
Recovery and follow-up
- ✓Save the messages, receipts, account alerts, and transaction details before you block or delete anything.
- ✓Report the scam through the official platform or government channel that best matches where it happened.
- ✓Verify any tax notice by contacting your county tax assessor's office directly using the number from their official website.
- ✓Pay property taxes only through your county's official payment portal or by mail to the address on your original tax bill.
- ✓Report fake tax notices to your county assessor's office and the FTC.
Why this pattern keeps working
Even when the story changes, most scams still use the same pressure pattern: urgency, authority, and a request to move money or data fast.
County tax offices across the U.S. have issued consumer warnings about fraudulent property tax notices, particularly targeting new homebuyers unfamiliar with the process.
BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Where to report it
If you have been targeted by this scam, reporting it helps authorities track the pattern and protect others. United States has dedicated agencies that handle fraud reports.
ReportFraud.gov
Federal Trade Commission
Central U.S. consumer fraud reporting portal.
File an IC3 complaint
FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center
FBI portal for internet-enabled crime reports.
Start identity theft recovery
IdentityTheft.gov
Official U.S. identity theft recovery plan builder.
Explore further
Understand the bigger picture
Who is most at risk
Who this scam targets
Primary targets
Homebuyers, First-time buyers
Geographic concentration
United States, Canada
Primary channel
Email — Real estate wire fraud
Why this group is vulnerable
Homebuyers are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The growing number of reports suggests that awareness among this demographic remains low.
Sources and methodology
How we verify this information
OpenScam tracks scam patterns using a combination of government consumer protection databases (FTC, IC3, Action Fraud), platform-specific fraud reports, and verified consumer complaint data. Each entry is cross-referenced against at least two independent sources before publication.
Severity ratings are based on financial impact potential, reversibility of damage, and volume of reports across multiple reporting channels. Trend velocity reflects the rate of change in report volume over the most recent 90-day window.
This page was last verified on 2026-04-04. Red flags, recovery steps, and reporting resources are reviewed quarterly against current agency guidance.
Evidence and indicators
- County tax offices across the U.S. have issued consumer warnings about fraudulent property tax notices, particularly targeting new homebuyers unfamiliar with the process.
Source notes
- BBB Scam Tracker 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about property tax payment redirect scam
How does the property tax payment redirect scam work?+
Scammers use public property records to identify homeowners and their addresses. They send convincing fake tax delinquency notices by email or mail, directing payment to a fraudulent bank account. The threat of tax liens and penalties creates urgency that pushes homeowners to pay quickly without verifying.
What are the warning signs of property tax payment redirect scam?+
A property tax notice arrives by email when your county normally sends paper notices The notice threatens immediate penalties or a lien if payment is not wired within days Payment is requested via wire transfer rather than through the county's official website or mail
What should I do if I encounter property tax payment redirect scam?+
Verify any tax notice by contacting your county tax assessor's office directly using the number from their official website. Pay property taxes only through your county's official payment portal or by mail to the address on your original tax bill. Report fake tax notices to your county assessor's office and the FTC.
Who is most at risk for property tax payment redirect scam?+
This scam primarily targets Homebuyers, First-time buyers. It is most commonly reported in United States, Canada and typically appears on Email.
Is property tax payment redirect scam on the rise?+
property tax payment redirect scam is currently on the rise with growing reports. It has been reported across US, CA. Last updated 2026-04-04.
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Help someone avoid this scam.
Scammers succeed because people do not talk about it. If you or someone you know has been affected, there is no shame in it — it happens to millions of people every year. Share this page with friends and family so they know what to look for.
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