Scammers Are Getting Smarter. Here Is What East Bay Home Sellers Need to Know.
If you are thinking about selling your home in Oakland, Concord, Walnut Creek, Hayward, or anywhere else in the East Bay, this post is for you. Especially if you are not someone who spends a lot of time online.
Real estate fraud is rising fast, and AI is making it worse. According to the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center, cybercriminals stole more than $275 million through real estate-related fraud in 2025 alone. That is up from $173 million in 2024. These are not just statistics. These are families who lost money they were counting on from the sale of their homes.
The FBI report also makes something very clear: this is not just happening to tech-savvy people or young buyers. People in their 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s all reported fraud at equal rates. No one is immune. And with AI now able to create fake profiles, fake emails, and fake voices that sound completely real, the scams are harder to spot than ever.
Here is what you need to know to protect yourself, and where the real opportunities still exist for East Bay sellers.
Why AI Has Made Fraud So Much Harder to Detect
In the past, you could spot a scam by the bad grammar or a strange email address. Not anymore.
AI tools can now generate professional-looking emails, fake social media profiles, and even clone the voice of someone you trust, like your agent or your attorney. Scammers use these tools to impersonate real professionals and trick sellers into sending money to the wrong account, signing fraudulent documents, or handing over sensitive personal information.
One real-world example from the FBI report: a family closing on a home received an email that looked like it came from their attorney. They wired a large sum of money directly to a scammer. The email was fake. The attorney never sent it.
This is called Business Email Compromise, and it is one of the most common scams targeting real estate transactions right now.
6 Strategies for East Bay Sellers and Their Agents
1. Always Verify Wire Instructions by Phone Before You Send Anything
This is the most important one. Before you wire any money, call your escrow officer, title company, or attorney directly using a phone number you already have on file. Do not use a number from a new email. Do not reply to the email asking for confirmation. Pick up the phone and call the number you used when you first set up the transaction.
Wire transfers are nearly impossible to reverse. Once that money is gone, it is usually gone for good.
If someone sends you updated wire instructions by email, treat that as a red flag and verify immediately. That is one of the most common ways scammers strike.
2. Use a Trusted, Local Agent You Can Meet in Person
In the East Bay, you have access to some of the most experienced real estate professionals in the country. Use them. Meet your agent in person. Know their face, their office address, and their direct phone number.
Be cautious of agents who only communicate by text or email and are never available to meet. Legitimate agents working in communities like Fremont, San Leandro, or Brentwood will welcome the chance to sit down with you.
If you do not already have an agent, ask a neighbor, a family member, or your church or community group for a referral. A personal recommendation from someone you trust is far more reliable than finding someone online.
3. Do Not Share Personal or Financial Information Through Email or Text
Scammers will ask you to send copies of your ID, your mortgage payoff letters, your Social Security number, or your banking information. Do not send any of this through regular email or text message.
Use secure portals that your escrow company or title company sets up for you. If you are unsure how to use one, ask your agent to walk you through it step by step. A good agent will take the time to do this with you, whether you are tech-savvy or not.
4. Set Up a Code Word With Your Agent and Escrow Team
This sounds simple, but it works. Agree on a private word or phrase with the key people on your transaction team at the very beginning of the process. If you ever get a call or email claiming to be from one of them with urgent instructions, ask for the code word. A real professional will know it. A scammer will not.
5. Take Your Time. Scammers Rely on Urgency.
One of the most common tactics is creating a sense of panic. "You must wire the funds today or the deal falls through." "This needs to be done in the next hour."
Real estate closings have timelines, but legitimate professionals will not pressure you to skip verification steps. If something feels rushed or off, slow down. Call your agent. Call your attorney. It is always better to take an extra hour than to lose your equity to a scammer.
6. Ask Your Agent About Their Fraud Prevention Plan
Before you list your home, ask your agent directly: What is your protocol for protecting clients from wire fraud and scams? A well-prepared agent should be able to tell you exactly what steps they take, including how they verify identities, how they share sensitive documents, and what to do if something looks suspicious.
The NAR recommends that brokers have a risk-reduction plan in place and provide regular fraud and cybersecurity training for their agents. If your agent cannot answer this question clearly, that is worth knowing before you sign.
Where the Real Opportunities Are for East Bay Sellers Right Now
Even with the fraud landscape getting more complex, the East Bay housing market has real bright spots for sellers heading into mid-2026.
Alameda County remains a seller's market. Demand for move-in ready homes is strong, particularly in cities like Alameda, Berkeley, and communities along the 880 corridor, where prices rose 10% in Alameda and 9% in Berkeley earlier this year.
In Central Contra Costa, Walnut Creek saw a 42% jump in sold listings. The Lamorinda area (Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda) is gaining significant momentum, with Lafayette seeing a 67% jump in sales and a median price climbing to $2.06 million.
In the Tri-Valley, price adjustments in cities like San Ramon contributed to a 62% increase in homes sold, showing that motivated, well-priced sellers are still closing deals.
Buyers are cautiously re-entering the market with mortgage rates hovering around 6.00% to 6.29%, and many are eager to move before rates shift again. That means sellers with clean, well-prepared homes have genuine negotiating power right now, especially compared to late 2025.
If you have been on the fence about selling your family home, this spring and early summer window is one worth taking seriously.
A Note for Families Who Are Not Comfortable Online
You do not have to navigate this alone.
If you are not someone who uses email or the internet much, the most important thing you can do is bring a trusted person into the process with you. This could be an adult child, a sibling, a close friend, or a neighbor you trust. Someone who can review emails on your behalf, ask questions, and flag anything that seems unusual.
You are not at a disadvantage just because you are not online every day. In many ways, you are at an advantage: you are less likely to click a suspicious link or respond to a scam message in a moment of distraction.
The scammers are hoping you feel too embarrassed to ask questions. Do not let them win. Ask every question you have. Slow down every time something feels off. And trust your gut. If something does not feel right, it probably is not.
The Bottom Line
Selling your home is one of the biggest financial moves you will ever make. The East Bay market is giving sellers real opportunities right now. But the fraud risk is also real and growing.
Work with professionals you have verified in person. Slow down when someone creates urgency. Never wire money without a phone call to confirm. And bring someone you trust into the process with you if technology is not your comfort zone.
You worked hard for this home. You deserve to sell it safely.
Sources: FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center 2025 Annual Report; National Association of Realtors; Bay East Association of Realtors; Contra Costa Association of Realtors; Abio Properties East Bay Market Update March 2026.
