Beware: Fake CAPTCHA Scam

What Home Buyers, Sellers & Agents Need to Know

Introduction

In the digital world, that familiar “I’m not a robot” checkbox has become a staple of verifying who you are before accessing a website or completing a form. You likely think of CAPTCHA prompts as a safety measure—but increasingly, scammers are weaponizing them. With home-buying and real estate activity shifting online, these schemes pose real risks not just to your data, but potentially also to trust and security in your real estate transactions.

What Is the Fake CAPTCHA Scam?

Cyber criminals are creating counterfeit CAPTCHA pages that mimic legitimate verification tools. Instead of proving you’re human, they trick you into installing malware—either by getting you to copy/paste harmful commands into system interfaces like the Run dialog, or by executing malicious scripts embedded in seemingly innocent files

How the Scam Works: A Closer Look

1. Luring You In

   • Scammers send phishing emails, use malicious ads (malvertising), or poison search results (SEO poisoning) to drive traffic to these fake CAPTCHA pages.

2. The Fake Verification

   • You’re prompted to verify your humanity. A button may appear—“I’m not a

     robot,” “Verify now,” or something similar.

   • The site might instruct you to:

     • Press Win + R to open the Run dialog,

       

     • Paste a script into it,

     • Then hit Enter That script could launch PowerShell or mshta.exe, executing malware or downloading harmful payloads—all under the guise of verification.

3. Hidden Malware

   • In some instances, the fake CAPTCHA links to files like MP3s that play a music track but contain embedded JavaScript. When executed, these files unleash multi-stage malware (e.g., infostealers like LummaStealer, Vidar, AsyncRAT) that can steal credentials and compromise your device.

Red Flags to Watch For

• CAPTCHA prompts that appear on websites where you've never seen them before.

• Requests to download, copy/paste, or run software or scripts after the CAPTCHA.

• Instructions to open system tools like the Run dialog—especially with scripts.

• Weird or misspelled URLs, or pages that load through suspicious redirects.

• Content that forces urgency or promises fast access to something (like property listings).

Tips to Protect Yourself & Your Clients

Risk	What You Can Do
Unexpected CAPTCHA requests	Pause before interacting. CAPTCHAs usually appear during login or form submissions—not browsing.
Requests to copy/paste commands	Never comply. Legitimate CAPTCHAs don’t ask for that.
Phishing emails or odd links	Scrutinize the sender and URL. When in doubt, go directly to the site via your own browser—not via a forwarded link.
Unusual behavior after clicking a CAPTCHA	Close the site immediately if something seems off. Run antivirus scans if you suspect interference.
Educate your team and clients	Remind them that malware can hide behind what looks normal—even a “verify you’re human” box.

Why This Matters in Real Estate

The real estate industry is built on trust—and now more than ever, much of the process starts online:

• Buyers research properties, schedule tours, submit documents—often starting from home.

• Agents handle sensitive paperwork, financial details, and electronic communications.

• Your title company acts as the neutral, trusted facilitator at the closing table.

One click on a deceptive link or CAPTCHA could compromise your device—or open the door to identity theft or fraud during a transaction.

Conclusion

At Home Solution Title, we believe in making your real estate journey safe, secure, and seamless. Cyber threats like fake CAPTCHA scams serve as a reminder: digital vigilance is just as important as physical property checks.

Need help verifying any link you receive from us—before, during, or after the closing? Contact us today. We’re here to help you safeguard your transaction at every step.