Foreclosure Scams Are Rising Alongside Indiana Foreclosures
Published by Cash Flow Deals · Last updated 2026-08-05
WRTV Investigates found scammers are mining public foreclosure filings to target Indiana homeowners with fake 'home-saver' rescue offers. One Indianapolis woman, Allison Dorris, lost $9,000 believing her payments were reaching her mortgage. Indiana logged 10,585 foreclosure filings in 2025, up 16.1%, and briefly ranked first in the country for foreclosure rate in February 2026.
| Factor | Traditional Listing | Cash Flow Deals |
|---|---|---|
| Who contacts a struggling homeowner first | Anyone can pull a public foreclosure filing, including scammers | A vetted, direct request the seller initiates |
| Where the money goes | Some 'rescue' programs collect fees with no mortgage relief | Cash Flow Deals is paid as a disclosed line item on the closing statement, never a hidden fee |
| Who actually funds the purchase | Varies, and unverified buyers can stall a sale for weeks | A real FHA or conventional buyer, funded by their own lender |
What WRTV Investigates uncovered
Reporter Kara Kenney documented how foreclosure filings, public record by law, become a target list for scammers. Allison Dorris lost her job during the pandemic, fell behind on her mortgage, and paid into what she believed was a home-saver program. "I thought the money was going toward my mortgage, but it wasn't," she told WRTV. She lost $9,000. Chase Haller of the Indiana Attorney General's Office explained the mechanics: "When there's a foreclosure filing that's actually public record, a scammer can get that information very easily." University of Minnesota researcher Prentiss Cox added that the pitch itself is the weapon: "I can help you save your home is very powerful for people in distress."
The foreclosure numbers behind the scam surge
Indiana logged 10,585 mortgage foreclosure cases in 2025, a 16.1% jump from 2024, and by February 2026 the state briefly ranked first nationally for foreclosure rate. Indianapolis ranked third among large metros. In Marion County's Northwest-Riverside and Crown Hill areas, foreclosure starts topped 24 per 1,000 owner-occupied households in 2025. Completed foreclosure sales in the county rose 20% to 437, and tax-delinquent owner-occupied properties climbed 36% to 883. More filings mean more names on the public record, and more targets for the scam WRTV documented.
How a Marion County homeowner protects themselves and their equity
Any unsolicited call or letter promising to "save your home" after a foreclosure filing hits the record deserves suspicion, especially one asking for upfront fees by wire, cashier's check, or a mobile payment app, or one asking a homeowner to sign over the title. The safer path starts with the homeowner reaching out first, not the other way around. A seller who wants a real, verifiable option can request a locked net-price offer from a real estate investment company before repairs are even scoped, with the payment structure disclosed on the closing statement, not collected upfront over the phone.
Common questions
How do scammers find Indiana homeowners facing foreclosure?
Foreclosure filings are public record. WRTV Investigates reports scammers pull those filings directly and contact homeowners with fake 'home-saver' rescue offers before a real buyer or lender ever reaches them.
What should a homeowner never do if someone offers to 'save' their home from foreclosure?
Never wire money, send a cashier's check, or sign over a property title to someone who contacted you first. The Indiana Attorney General's Office and WRTV both flag upfront-fee requests as a core scam pattern.
How much did foreclosure filings rise in Indiana in 2025?
Indiana recorded 10,585 mortgage foreclosure cases in 2025, a 16.1% increase over 2024, according to ATTOM data cited by WRTV.
Is a locked net-price offer safer than a home-saver program?
A locked net-price offer from a real estate investment company is disclosed on the closing statement and requires no upfront payment from the seller, unlike the fee-collecting scams WRTV documented.
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What this means for your options
Rising foreclosure filings mean more distressed inventory competing for the same buyers. The homes that sell fastest are the ones priced and positioned before that competition grows.
Wait and see
Keep the property as-is and hope conditions improve. The mortgage, insurance, and upkeep keep costing money while you wait, with no set date for things to turn around.
List with a traditional agent
Standard MLS listing, typically 5-6% in commission, and a financed buyer whose deal depends on appraisal, inspection, and lender approval — any of which can fall through after weeks on market.
Sell to Cash Flow Deals
No repairs, no showings, no financing contingency on your side — our novation structure connects you with a bank-financed buyer at a price locked at signing. A no-obligation offer, usually within one business day.
See your no-obligation cash offer before you decide anything.