Behind the Curtain: How Alleged Real Estate Scammers Hide in Plain Sight

The real estate industry offers tremendous opportunity — wealth-building, renovations, partnerships, and passive income. But with that opportunity comes risk, especially when individuals allegedly exploit legal loopholes, manipulate trust, and hide behind layers of corporations and aliases.

I’ve recently become involved in what I believe to be a complex and deeply troubling real estate scam involving a California-based broker, Mohammad Azadzoi of Elite REO Brokers (CA License #01786757). What began as a seemingly legitimate investment has unraveled into a cautionary tale of what can allegedly happen when transparency, ethics, and regulation are ignored.

Let’s explore why someone like Azadzoi would allegedly go to great lengths to keep his name off property titles, loans, and public records — and how this may be part of a broader pattern of concealment.

1. Ongoing Lawsuits May Limit Access to Credit and Partnerships

According to public records and multiple victims who’ve come forward, Azadzoi is allegedly facing several active lawsuits — many of which involve accusations of fraud, breach of contract, and misconduct in real estate transactions. These pending legal matters may make it difficult for him to secure traditional financing or establish trust with lenders, which could explain why he might choose to operate behind the scenes using other individuals or entities as fronts.

2. Prior Liens and Foreclosures Reportedly Damage Creditworthiness

It has been reported that Azadzoi has been linked to more than 10 foreclosures, along with liens attached to properties associated with his business activities. If true, this history would significantly impact his ability to obtain loans or work with reputable financial institutions. As a result, it’s reasonable to believe he may allegedly resort to using other people’s names, friends, family members, or corporate entities to secure financing while distancing himself from the transaction — at least on paper.

3. Straw Buyers: A Classic Tactic to Conceal Ownership

In some of the transactions tied to Azadzoi, it appears that so-called straw buyers may have been used — individuals who are listed as the borrower or buyer, but who are not the actual beneficiary of the deal. This alleged use of straw buyers can help conceal the true ownership of a property, delay detection by regulators, and create layers of separation between the funds and the fraud. While not illegal in itself, this practice becomes criminal if it’s used to defraud lenders, investors, or the government — which, based on multiple reports, may be the case here.

4. Alleged Tax Avoidance and Financial Shell Games

There are concerns that Azadzoi may be using multiple LLCs and undisclosed partnerships to allegedly avoid tax liability. By funneling transactions through various corporations — none of which bear his name publicly — it becomes extremely difficult to trace income, capital gains, or the real beneficiary of financial transactions. If proven, this type of conduct could violate IRS regulations and carry serious civil and criminal penalties.

5. Keeping Assets Off the Books

When someone's name doesn’t appear on a title, mortgage, or business license, it becomes significantly harder to tie them to an asset or liability. Victims allege that Azadzoi often keeps his name off official records, allegedly using relatives, friends, or even associates’ spouses as nominal owners of property. For example, multiple transactions have reportedly been listed under his wife’s name as an “unmarried woman” — despite the existence of their marriage. If true, this could be part of an effort to hide assets during lawsuits or avoid judgment collections.

6. Allegations of Alias Use and Identity Confusion

In my personal experience and in reports from others, Azadzoi has allegedly introduced himself using alternative names — including “John.” There are also claims that stolen or borrowed identities have been used in certain transactions. If accurate, this pattern of allegedly using aliases or misleading identities further complicates the paper trail and may point to efforts to intentionally deceive lenders, partners, and law enforcement.

7. Public Record Gaps and the Illusion of Legitimacy

Many of the deals linked to Azadzoi or his network don’t show his name anywhere on public records. This creates an illusion of legitimacy — investors think they’re dealing with the listed party, not realizing that the decision-maker is allegedly someone else entirely. The use of silent partnerships, undisclosed ownership, and verbal agreements puts investors in a precarious position, especially when things go wrong — as they have in my case.

Final Thoughts: A Warning to Investors, Homebuyers, and Professionals

While all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty, the volume of complaints, legal filings, and overlapping stories from victims paint a concerning picture. Allegedly, this is not just one isolated incident — it may be part of a larger pattern of deception designed to defraud lenders, evade taxes, and manipulate the real estate market.

For anyone considering a joint venture or private deal: do your homework, ask for everything in writing, verify names on public records, and if something feels off — it probably is.

If you believe you’ve been a victim of a similar scheme, consider reporting it to the California Department of Real Estate, the IRS Financial Crimes Unit, the FBI, and your local District Attorney’s Office.

Let’s shine light into the shadows and protect others from being taken advantage of under the illusion of opportunity.