We Buy Houses Scams in Durham NC and How to Spot Them
Published October 14, 2023 · Updated November 12, 2026 · By the Virtus Offers team
Most companies that buy houses for cash are legitimate. A few are not, and they tend to look for owners who are behind on payments or in a hurry. Knowing the common schemes makes them easy to spot.
1. Equity skimming
The scammer offers to take over your mortgage or help you refinance, and asks you to sign the deed over first. Once the house is in their name they collect rent or borrow against it, stop paying the mortgage, and leave you facing foreclosure on a loan that is still yours.
Never sign a deed over to anyone before a real closing where your loan is paid off.
2. Foreclosure rescue
These operators find homeowners through foreclosure notices and promise to save the house for a fee. Some charge for things you could do yourself for free. Others set up a deal where you become a renter in your own home with a promise that you can buy it back later, and then never make the payments.
Be careful with anyone who tells you not to talk to your lender. A HUD approved housing counselor will help you at no charge.
3. Fake buyers and phishing
A message arrives from a buyer you have never met offering cash, sometimes well above what the house is worth. The goal is your personal or banking information, or a payment from you. Requests to pay by gift card, wire transfer or cryptocurrency are a clear sign of fraud.
4. Money up front
A real buyer never asks the seller for money. In a normal sale it works the other way around: the buyer puts down earnest money, and it is held by the closing attorney or title company, not by the buyer. If someone asks you to pay an application fee, a processing fee or a deposit, walk away.
How to check any cash buyer
- Look the company up with the North Carolina Secretary of State and the Better Business Bureau
- Read their Google reviews and look for a local phone number that someone answers
- Ask for proof of funds
- Make sure the closing goes through a licensed North Carolina attorney or title company
- Have an attorney read anything you do not understand before you sign
- Take your time. An honest buyer will not rush you.
If you think you have been targeted, you can file a complaint with the North Carolina Attorney General's office.
This article is general information, not legal advice.