Common Property Scams That Homebuyers Should Be Wary Of

Property fraud is rapidly becoming one of the most serious risks facing homebuyers in India. As the real estate sector expands into suburbs, villages, and unregulated zones, scams are no longer confined to small-time operators. Today’s frauds are backed by forged paperwork, aggressive sales tactics, and legal loopholes that leave buyers exposed.

From fake title deeds to investment schemes that collapse mid-way, the problem spans income groups and geographies. Flats are sold without clear titles. Projects are launched without approvals. Properties are handed over years late or never at all. For many buyers, the result is the same: money lost, homes undelivered, and years locked in court disputes. Here's a guide on how to prevent property scams in India.

Title and Deed Fraud

Criminals are exploiting outdated land records and weak oversight to claim properties they don’t own. Using forged documents, they transfer ownership or sell off land belonging to someone else, often an NRI or an absentee owner. In many cases, the land hasn’t been visited in decades, making it an easy target.

Once a forged deed is filed, the fraudster poses as the legal owner, collecting payments or even reselling the property multiple times. Victims are left scrambling through courts to undo transactions that should’ve never happened in the first place.

Buyers, especially NRIs, are often misled by slick presentations and staged walk-through videos created by overseas sales teams. Adding to the troubles is the fact that many of these townships are built in gram panchayat jurisdictions, outside municipal oversight. This translates into poor sanitation, erratic water supply, and nonexistent public transport. Worse, builders retain control of facilities like clubhouses and parking lots for years, charging arbitrary maintenance fees and hiking costs at will.

The maintenance ecosystem itself is rigged. With monopolies on transportation and broadband, residents often pay inflated prices just to stay connected. Selling such flats later is a nightmare, especially with fees like No Objection Certificates (NOCs) pushing resale costs higher.

Assured Returns and Pre-Launch Traps

Pre-launch offers and “assured return” schemes have become a popular way for developers to raise money, but without delivering results. Buyers are promised fixed returns every month or access to discounted properties in yet-to-be-approved projects.

Once the money comes in, the reality sinks in - projects stall. Returns stop. Buyers are locked into watertight agreements that offer no way out. Even in cases where construction starts, it rarely finishes on time, if at all. The dream of a profitable investment quickly turns into a legal nightmare.

Multiple Sale Con

In unregulated markets and on disputed land parcels, one of the oldest tricks in the book still thrives: selling the same flat or plot to multiple buyers. This con is particularly rampant in fast-developing areas where record verification is difficult and enforcement is lax.

Each buyer is given a separate set of documents and sold the dream of exclusive ownership. By the time the scam comes to light, the scammer is gone, and the legal mess can take years to unravel. Victims are often forced into long court battles just to prove they were duped.

Delayed Delivery and Dubious Clauses

Real estate brochures often come with glossy promises, completion dates, luxurious amenities, and a modern lifestyle. But once the deal is signed and money is paid, the timeline starts to slip. Months become years, construction halts. Developers blame everything from market conditions to approvals, but the real issue lies in the contracts themselves.

Most builder-buyer agreements are deliberately lopsided, shifting all responsibility and risk to the buyer. Hidden clauses give developers the legal cover to delay possession indefinitely. Buyers remain on the hook for payments, even as they’re forced to pay rent elsewhere while their promised home remains unfinished.

Rural and Isolated Land Claims

Rural and fringe areas are prime targets for different kinds of scams. Here, scammers identify unattended or abandoned land, often owned by people who have moved abroad or passed away. Without any resistance, they move in, erect temporary structures, and begin forging ownership documents.

These lands are then sold off to unsuspecting buyers at attractive prices. Because the land has been out of circulation for so long, few question the documents or history. Once the fraud is discovered, reclaiming ownership becomes a lengthy legal process, especially when squatters dig in and delay proceedings in court.

How Buyers Can Protect Themselves

Experts warn that the only defence is relentless due diligence. Here’s what seasoned lawyers and property consultants recommend:

Check and double-check the title deed. Verify it at the local sub-registrar’s office and ensure it matches the seller’s name.

Demand an encumbrance certificate to confirm the property is free of loans or legal dues.

Ask for the building’s occupancy certificate (OC) and completion certificate from municipal authorities.

Verify the land’s zoning and use permissions. Buying residential property on commercial land or vice versa can bring long-term legal troubles.

Consult a real estate lawyer, even if it means spending extra upfront. The cost is far lower than dealing with fraud.

The Role of RERA Help, But With Limits

The Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Act (RERA) was introduced to bring accountability to a sector long plagued by opacity and delay. It requires builders to register projects, disclose essential approvals, and bars them from taking more than 10% of the property’s cost before signing a formal agreement. On paper, it’s a significant step forward.

In practice, enforcement varies sharply from state to state. While buyers can lodge complaints online, track project updates, and seek refunds for missed deadlines, the system is far from airtight. Delays in redressal are common, and in many states, RERA authorities are understaffed or ineffective. Even well-documented cases can drag on for months without resolution.

As land values climb and marketing campaigns grow more aggressive, scam tactics have evolved to appear more legitimate. First-time buyers and NRIs remain especially vulnerable. The most effective defence isn’t a regulation, it’s caution.

Any deal that seems too attractive should trigger scrutiny. Visit the property. Read every document. Consult a lawyer. Once the money is transferred, reversing the damage often means years in court, mounting legal bills, and no guaranteed outcome.