Where can I find resources to teach my agents about scams?
QUESTION: I am a broker-in-charge. An agent in my firm signed a listing agreement with a “seller” and spent a lot of time getting the listing ready for market. Just before the listing went live, the real owner reached out because some of the neighbors asked them about the property going up for sale. The scammer has now disappeared and will not sign a termination. How do we terminate the listing agreement with the fake seller? Are there any resources available to me to help teach my agents how to detect these scams before they spend a lot of time and money getting a property ready to sell?
ANSWER: A formal termination of the listing agreement is not necessary. It is probably best just to ignore the scammer if you are certain that the actual owner has now made contact with your firm. There are many resources from both NC REALTORS®, the National Association of REALTORS®, and probably your local board that you can use to train your agents.
As to the listing agreement, a contract based on fraud is not a contract at all. If you are able to confirm with certainty that a fake seller has signed the listing agreement, then there is no enforceable listing agreement. The scammer has already wasted a lot of your firm’s time and energy. There is no need to let them take more by trying to get the scammer to sign a termination. You can simply report the fraud and move on from the listing. You can file reports with ic3.gov, Forewarn, and Agent Alert Pro (if offered by your local board). Keep any documents and communications between your firm and the scammer.
As for resources, NC REALTORS® has several Q&As to help agents detect scams as well as a Legal Risks in Real Estate CE class that covers this issue and many other legal landmines that agents must navigate. In particular, this Q&A focuses on detecting fake seller scams like the one your agent encountered.
NAR has also recently launched Protecting Your Clients and Your Business From Fraud, a new online resource. It specifically addresses prevention, detection, and reporting of fraud, and includes tips on how AI may be enhancing scammers’ abilities.
It is important to note that these resources are helpful and comprehensive, but they are best utilized when they are used often. Most agents need constant training and reminders in order to effectively avoid scams. This is because scammers are adept at changing tactics as soon as one becomes less effective.
Release Date: 10/1/2026
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