Protecting Your Property from Scams with Google Alerts

Protecting Your Property from Scams with Google Alerts

Unfortunately, real estate scams are becoming more common, with fraudsters stealing property photos from the internet to create fake rental listings—often on Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. These scams target unsuspecting renters by advertising properties they don’t actually own, attempting to collect deposits from tenants who have never seen the home in person.

This happens in both cities and suburbs, and as Realtors®, we see rental scams almost daily.

So, how can you protect yourself as a property owner, landlord, or tenant?

Use Google Alerts to Monitor Your Property

A Google Alert is a free tool that sends you email notifications whenever new web pages mention your home, rental property, or even your name in search results. This can help you:

✔ Monitor fraudulent rental listings using your property’s photos
✔ Stay informed about public mentions of your home or rental unit
✔ Track tenant activity (if you’re a landlord)
✔ Ensure no one is misrepresenting your property

How to Set Up a Google Alert for Your Property

📌 Step 1: Visit Google Alerts (you’ll need a Google account).
📌 Step 2: Choose Your Search Terms

• Property Owners & Renters: Set up alerts for your address using different variations:

  • "3537 Main St" (use quotation marks to get exact matches)

  • "3537 Main St." (with abbreviations)

  • "3537 Main St, Moorestown" (including your city)

• Landlords: Consider adding your tenant’s full name and phone number to receive updates if they post public ads (such as a “Moving Sale” listing).

• Parents: You can also set up alerts for your child’s name to monitor online activity and public mentions (but that’s a topic for another day!).

📌 Step 3: Select Your Alert Preferences

• Type of Information to Search – Choose “Everything” to include all types of search results (news, blogs, web, videos, etc.).

• How Often to Receive Alerts – Choose “as it happens”, daily, or weekly based on how frequently you want updates.

• Result Volume – Choose between “All results” or “Only the best results.”

• Delivery Method – You can receive alerts via email or RSS feed.

📌 Step 4: Create Your Alert & Monitor Your Inbox!

Why Google Alerts Matter for Homeowners & Renters

🔹 Homeowners & Investors: Monitor for fraudulent rental listings using photos of your home.
🔹 Landlords: Stay ahead of potential issues, such as tenants planning to move without notice (if they list a moving sale).
🔹 Renters: Keep an eye on any suspicious activity involving your rental address.

Important Note: Google Alerts is not 100% foolproof, as it only tracks top search results and may miss some listings. However, it’s a great first line of defense to help safeguard your property.

Final Thoughts

Taking a few minutes to set up a Google Alert can help you protect your property, your investment, and your peace of mind. If you need assistance or have concerns about real estate scams, reach out to us—we’re here to help!