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MortgagePoint » Your Trusted Source for Mortgage Banking and Servicing News 56 November 2025 S P O N S O R E D C O N T E N T PROTECTING VACANT REO PROPERTIES FROM LISTING SCAMS Why Every Broker Should Set Up Google Alerts Immediately B y M I C H A E L K R E I N W hen you're managing hundreds of vacant REO properties across the country, the risk of online fraud is very real—and growing rapidly again. Rental and "for sale" scams have exploded on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and even on seemingly legitimate real estate sites. It may no longer be a hot topic in the media, but that doesn't mean the problem has gone away. If anything, we are seeing it on the increase. Scammers copy MLS photos, prop- erty descriptions, and addresses, then repost the home for rent or sale at an attractive price. Unsuspecting con- sumers send deposits, move-in money, or personal information—all before discovering the listing was fake. The damage isn't limited to consum- ers. These scams cause chaos for bro- kers and servicers, with angry tenants showing up at locked doors, resulting in police calls, negative online reviews, and unnecessary liability headaches. That's why NRBA members make digital property monitoring a standard part of our intake process. It's one of many ways we safeguard client assets, and it's something every serious REO broker should do automatically. Why Listing Scams Are So Common V acant REO homes are perfect targets. • They're often unoccupied for months or even years. • Exterior signs—no curtains, no furniture—make it obvious the property is empty. • Scammers easily copy listing photos and repost them elsewhere. • They even use AI to write enticing descriptions and syndicate their fake ads. They know desperate renters or bargain hunters are quick to jump on what looks like a great deal. Some scammers even meet prospects at the property, pretend to be landlords, collect deposits—and then vanish. These crimes are so widespread that many police departments now have dedicated real estate fraud units. But prevention still begins with the listing broker—the first line of defense. The NRBA Standard: Monitor Every Listing from Day One A t the NRBA, we teach that protect- ing an asset isn't just about securing the doors; it's about securing the digital footprint, too. Every NRBA broker knows: the moment you get an assignment, you set up a Google Alert for that property ad- dress. It takes less than one minute and can prevent months of problems later. Google Alerts automatically notify the broker whenever that address ap- pears online, whether in a Craigslist ad, a Facebook Marketplace post, or a rental listing elsewhere. That early warning often stops a scam before it starts. How to Set Up Google Alerts (Step-by-Step) 1. Go to google.com/alerts. 2. Enter the property address in quotation marks to search for exact matches. Example: • "1234 Beach Drive, Miramar Beach, FL 32550" • "1234 Beach Dr Miramar Beach" 3. Add keyword variations to catch scams: • "1234 Beach Dr" rent OR rental OR lease • 1234 Beach Drive" for sale OR listed The nation's largest and most successful REO broker for many years, M I C H A E L K R E I N has personally listed and sold over 25,000 single-family residential units over the course of his career. Krein was also the owner of numerous multi-office brokerage companies, both independent and franchised, including owning regions for national brands. He also serves as President of the National REO Brokers Association (NRBA), CEO of RIO Software Solutions, provider of RIO Genesis Software, and Managing Partner for House Karma, a digital ecosystem created to facilitate affordable homeownership and revitalize neighborhoods.