$12.5B
FTC-reported fraud losses in 2024
FTC says consumers reported losing $12.5 billion to fraud in 2024.
Zillow home valuation data harvest scam
A phishing ad or email offers a free home valuation through Zillow, but the form collects extensive personal information used for identity theft and targeted real estate scams.
“impersonation scam”
↑ 604%Key indicators
Usually targetsHomeowners
Often hitsReal estate professionals and homebuyers
Common regionUnited States
Last updated2026-04-04
Estimated impact
$640
median reported loss
Typical range$40 – $8.0K
Recovery rate~15%
Annual reports330,000
Scam breakdown
1
Scammers run ads or send emails offering a free detailed home valuation through what appears to be Zillow.
2
The landing page collects name, address, phone, email, and sometimes financial information.
3
This data is sold to scam operations or used to target the homeowner with follow-up real estate scams.
What to do first
Check your home's Zestimate for free directly at zillow.com — no additional personal data is required.
Related terms
fake Zillow home value checkZillow valuation phishinghome value data scamBrand impersonation scamsZillowSurgingHomeownersAdultsSeniorsReal estate professionals and homebuyersRetirees and seniorsOnline shoppersUnited Statesfake Zillow home value checkZillow valuation phishing
Real-world example
How this scam plays out in practice
Based on reported patterns. Names and details are illustrative.
The setup
Kevin, 42, a homeowners, encountered what appeared to be a legitimate brand impersonation scams situation while using Zillow. Scammers run ads or send emails offering a free detailed home valuation through what appears to be Zillow.
Step 2
What happened next was calculated: The landing page collects name, address, phone, email, and sometimes financial information.
Step 3
The pressure escalated quickly: This data is sold to scam operations or used to target the homeowner with follow-up real estate scams.
The outcome
Kevin realized something was wrong when ad promises an exact home value (zestimates are estimates, not appraisals). By that point, significant damage had already been done — money sent, personal information shared, or trust exploited.
The lesson
Check your home's Zestimate for free directly at zillow.com — no additional personal data is required. Kevin's experience shows why ad promises an exact home value (zestimates are estimates, not appraisals) and form asks for information beyond what is needed for a home estimate, such as income or ssn are the clearest early warning signs.
How to identify it
- Ad promises an exact home value (Zestimates are estimates, not appraisals)
- Form asks for information beyond what is needed for a home estimate, such as income or SSN
- URL is not zillow.com
- 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
- ✓Check your home's Zestimate for free directly at zillow.com — no additional personal data is required.
- ✓Never enter financial information for a home value estimate.
- ✓Report fake valuation ads to the platform where you saw them.
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.
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.
- Data harvesting through fake home valuation tools has been flagged by the FTC as a growing lead-generation scam affecting homeowners nationwide.
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.
- ✓Check your home's Zestimate for free directly at zillow.com — no additional personal data is required.
- ✓Never enter financial information for a home value estimate.
- ✓Report fake valuation ads to the platform where you saw them.
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.
Data harvesting through fake home valuation tools has been flagged by the FTC as a growing lead-generation scam affecting homeowners nationwide.
FTC Consumer Sentinel 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
Homeowners, Adults, Seniors
Geographic concentration
United States
Primary channel
Zillow — Brand impersonation scams
Why this group is vulnerable
Homeowners are particularly vulnerable because this scam exploits trust in familiar brands, authority figures, and time-sensitive decisions. The rapid increase in 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
- Data harvesting through fake home valuation tools has been flagged by the FTC as a growing lead-generation scam affecting homeowners nationwide.
Source notes
- FTC Consumer Sentinel 2025
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about zillow home valuation data harvest scam
How does the zillow home valuation data harvest scam work?+
Scammers run ads or send emails offering a free detailed home valuation through what appears to be Zillow. The landing page collects name, address, phone, email, and sometimes financial information. This data is sold to scam operations or used to target the homeowner with follow-up real estate scams.
What are the warning signs of zillow home valuation data harvest scam?+
Ad promises an exact home value (Zestimates are estimates, not appraisals) Form asks for information beyond what is needed for a home estimate, such as income or SSN URL is not zillow.com
What should I do if I encounter zillow home valuation data harvest scam?+
Check your home's Zestimate for free directly at zillow.com — no additional personal data is required. Never enter financial information for a home value estimate. Report fake valuation ads to the platform where you saw them.
Who is most at risk for zillow home valuation data harvest scam?+
This scam primarily targets Homeowners, Adults, Seniors. It is most commonly reported in United States and typically appears on Zillow.
Is zillow home valuation data harvest scam getting worse?+
Zillow home valuation data harvest scam is currently surging — reports are increasing rapidly. It has been reported across US. 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.