What is an estate sale scam?

What this usually means

Fraudulent estate sale companies that take a high commission (sometimes 40–50%), remove valuable items before the sale, or fail to pay the estate the proceeds. In California, estate sale companies are not licensed — there is no state oversight. Vet any estate sale company carefully: ask for references, get a contract, and ask specifically what commission they charge and how proceeds are paid.

What to do next

• Start the PathAfter checklist for situation-aware first steps.
• Find California county help for coroner contacts, vital records, cost tools, and paperwork.
• Open the First 72 Hours Call Log before making calls.
• Open the Documents to Find Checklist when you are ready for paperwork.

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