Each year, the final months before Christmas spark a rush of real estate activity. Homeowners want to close quickly, buyers feel pressure to secure properties before travel and holidays, and emotions often run higher than usual. Unfortunately, this urgency creates the perfect environment for scammers.
A new analysis from PPS House Buyers reveals which U.S. states face the highest risk of real estate scams during the winter months — and how much money homeowners are losing as a result.
Nevada Leads the Nation in Winter Real Estate Scam Risk
Using Federal Trade Commission (FTC) data from October through December of 2022–2024, the study found that Nevada ranks as the most vulnerable state, averaging 2.64 real estate scam reports per 100,000 residents during the winter season.
Nevada homeowners lost $1,390,643 across 86 total reports, averaging $16,108 per scam.
Georgia and Florida Follow Closely Behind
Georgia ranks second with 2.29 reports per 100,000 residents, followed by Florida at 2.23 reports — nearly double the national average of 1.14.
Florida also experiences the greatest total financial loss of all states, at $7.2 million each year during this three-month period. The average loss per Florida resident impacted is $13,847.
Other High-Risk States
While some states have fewer total reports, the financial damage per victim can be severe.
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Alaska ranks fourth (2.16 reports per 100k), though the smaller population means only 16 reports per year on average.
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Arizona ranks fifth with 2.04 reports per 100k — but losses average $18,025 per victim, well above the national average.
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Wyoming has fewer reports overall, but homeowners suffer the highest average losses in the nation at $80,694 per scam, nearly five times the national average of $16,369.
Top 10 States Most at Risk for Winter Real Estate Scams
| Rank | State | Scam Reports per 100k Residents (Oct–Dec) | Avg. Loss per Report |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nevada | 2.64 | $16,108 |
| 2 | Georgia | 2.29 | $7,440 |
| 3 | Florida | 2.23 | $13,847 |
| 4 | Alaska | 2.16 | $10,779 |
| 5 | Arizona | 2.04 | $18,025 |
| 6 | Colorado | 1.62 | $12,754 |
| 7 | South Carolina | 1.49 | $11,575 |
| 8 | Virginia | 1.47 | $10,072 |
| 9 | Missouri | 1.46 | $16,890 |
| 10 | Hawaii | 1.45 | $13,138 |
Why Winter Scams Surge
According to Joel Medrano, CEO of PPS House Buyers:
“The holidays create the perfect storm for real estate scams. Buyers feel pressure to close before Christmas, and scammers exploit that urgency with deals that seem too good to miss.”
He also notes that states with fewer reported incidents often show shocking financial losses per victim, especially in regions like Wyoming and North Dakota, where the average losses exceed $75,000.
Common Winter Real Estate Scams to Watch For
Homeowners and sellers should be especially cautious of:
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Fake cash buyers promising “fast closings” but demanding upfront fees
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Email or title fraud, where scammers imitate closing agents and redirect wire transfers
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Off-market “too good to be true” offers designed to pressure sellers
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Phony rental or lease-to-own scams targeting vacant properties
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Forged documents or identity theft involving property titles
How Homeowners Can Protect Themselves
Joel Medrano offers simple but essential advice:
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Verify all parties through official channels
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Never wire funds based on email instructions alone
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Be wary of urgent or time-pressured deals
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Confirm buyer identities, especially when dealing with off-market or investor offers
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Use trusted professionals for title, escrow, and closing
PPS House Buyers: A Trusted, Scam-Free Alternative
With real estate scams rising nationwide — and especially in states like Florida, Nevada, Georgia, and Arizona — many homeowners simply want a safe, legitimate, and transparent way to sell.
That’s exactly what the team at PPS House Buyers provides.
- No hidden fees
- No games
- No “too good to be true” offers
- Just real people making fair, honest cash offers
- Fast closings
For homeowners trying to avoid scammers or urgent holiday pressure, PPS House Buyers offers a secure and trustworthy selling experience.
Methodology
This analysis used Federal Trade Commission (FTC) scam report data from Q4 of 2022, 2023, and 2024. The study compared the number of real estate scam reports and total financial losses against population data to calculate scam reports per 100,000 residents and average loss per report.
Source: Federal Trade Commission — Fraud Reports Database
