How MIBOR Removed 2,400 Fake Listings in One Month with Property Shield

At a Glance

• 2,400+ fake listings removed in a single month
• Adoption reached about 31% by August 2025
• Portfolio size: MLS-wide coverage across Central Indiana

Objective

Show that an MLS can prevent fraud beyond its own platform, protect real estate professionals and consumers in active real estate transactions, and restore trust with fast removals and clear member workflows.

Background

Real estate fraud is not new, but the scale has changed. Members were seeing homes listed for sale show up online as fake rentals. Some asked for payments or deposits up front. Others pushed fake applications to harvest sensitive data and personal documents. The problem lived outside the MLS on public websites and social platforms, where staff had little control. Yet members expected protection and results that made a difference in real life.

In May 2025, MIBOR deployed Property Shield to monitor the open internet for impersonations and misuse, alert members in minutes, and work directly with platforms to take down unauthorized posts before renters try to send money.

The Problem

Fraud sat in a blind spot. A real estate agent would list a property for sale, and within hours a copycat post could appear as a too-good-to-be-true rental. Scammers targeted buyers, renters, and sellers in equal measure. Some asked for payments or deposits up front, others pushed fake applications to harvest sensitive data. Each incident forced agents to pause deals, field calls from clients, and spend time reporting scams. Reputational damage lingered even after a takedown.

The core issue was control. Scams played out on websites the MLS did not own. Staff could educate, they could share resources, but they could not see everything fast enough to prevent fraud at the pace it was spreading.

Common patterns MIBOR needed to stop

These red flags showed up again and again: below-market rent, brand-new profiles, and pressure to move fast.

• Cloned sales content reposted as rentals with altered contact details
• Move-in scams that targeted vacant properties and pushed prospects to lease sight unseen
• Application traps that captured sensitive information from unsuspecting people

The Solution

MIBOR chose Property Shield for MLS fraud prevention that works where mortgage fraud lives: across the web. The platform monitors for unauthorized use of MLS data, detects suspicious activity quickly, and notifies members in near real time. Alerts are MLS-branded so agents recognize them as legitimate, and each alert includes a side-by-side comparison of the real record and the fake post with a one-click action to verify.

Brokerage dashboards created simple office visibility. Managers could see what was happening across their properties without going through emails, and when staff took action, the system pushed removals through the right channels so the burden did not sit on each individual agent all day.

Why this fit MIBOR’s needs

• Prevent real estate scams where they actually shows up: public websites and social media
• Help real estate agents act quickly with clear, legitimate alerts members trust
• Provide light-lift workflows that protect clients and active transactions without adding noise

Implementation

MIBOR launched in May 2025 after a short pilot. A small group of offices tested alert subject lines and the confirmation workflow. Training followed through webinars, launch articles, compliance classes, and LMS modules. MIBOR kept member resources in one place so front-desk teams and agents could find what they needed fast.

The message was consistent: what alerts look like, how to verify, and how quickly it works. Branding matched the MLS to avoid confusion about who was contacting members.

Property Shield worked closely with MIBOR on customization and feedback. That partnership mattered. It helped remove friction early and kept adoption climbing.

First step, then scale

• Pilot to tune alerts and the one-click action
• Training to build trust with agents and front-desk teams
• Office dashboards to bring daily visibility without extra overhead

Results

• June 2025: about 2,000 fraudulent posts identified, 680 removed, adoption near 20 percent
• July 2025: adoption climbed to about 30% as more offices brought the dashboard into daily routines
• August 2025: more than serious threats 4,000 detected and over 2,400 removed in a single month, with adoption edging up to about 31 percent
• One high-profile property saw more than 100 fake posts removed across multiple accounts and sites until the scammers gave up

What Changed for Members

Speed and confidence. Alerts arrived in minutes, usually before renters tried to send money to a fake account. Agents could verify a post with one click, then move on with the real work. Offices got practical oversight without adding another tool to patrol all day.

Why this matters to the industry

Real estate fraud undercuts trust in real estate transactions and steals time from everyone involved. When an MLS can act outside its own walls, it protects clients and keeps deals on track. That's not just a technology win: it's a leadership move that members notice.

Methodology and Assumptions

• Counts reflect detections and confirmed removals from third-party sites during the months cited
• Adoption refers to member engagement with alerts and the verification flow
• Agent verification reduces false positives and ensures legitimate posts are not impacted

Analysis and Takeaway

This is what modern MLS protection looks like. Monitoring only inside the system misses the action. MIBOR put eyes on the internet, turned fraud into an operational workflow, and showed members that their MLS is protecting people, properties, and active transactions in real time.

Two effects stood out: first, trust. When an email is MLS-branded, agents take it seriously. Second, scale. By reducing busywork and handling takedowns through proper channels, the MLS saved time and protected clients without creating another heavy lift for the field. That combination is how you prevent fraud at scale.

Testimonial

“We described it in our rollout as our members’ insurance policy. We hope you never need it, but it’s there if you do.”

• Angie Baker, Vice President, Broker Listing Cooperative® (BLC®), MIBOR

“When they see an alert with MIBOR’s name and can act with a single click, it builds trust. They know the MLS is looking out for them.”

Looking Ahead

MIBOR plans to extend monitoring into IDX attribution and unauthorized data use, and to test in-system pop-ups so members can act even faster without relying on email alone.

Want Similar Results for Your Portfolio? Reach Out to Property Shield Today. Learn how you can save thousands with our industry-trusted solution against scam and fraud.