A millennial who'd bought 3 houses got scammed out of $60,000 buying her fourth — and it's more common than you might think

• Regina Smith, 34, owned three homes and wanted to buy another to rent out.
• Smith inadvertently sent her $60,000 down payment to a scammer. Then her home purchase fell through.
• Real-estate scams and wire fraud are on the rise and can affect even experienced buyers and sellers.

Regina Smith had found a two-bedroom house in the historic district of Memphis, Tennessee. It was over 100 years old with lots of character in an artsy part of town — perfect for a short-term rental.

Her offer of $280,000 was accepted and she prepared for closing in January 2023.