An AI-generated video circulating on YouTube is tricking older homeowners into calling county auditors across Ohio to request a form that doesn't exist. Hamilton County Auditor Jessica E. Miranda wants Hyde Park, Oakley and Mount Lookout residents to know it's a scam.
Miranda's office issued a warning Monday, Aug. 10, about the fake video, which tells homeowners born in the 1940s, '50s or '60s that Congress recently approved a federal property tax freeze. It directs them to ask their county auditor for a "Federal Senior Homeowner Tax Review Request" form.
No such form exists. No such federal program exists.
"This form does not exist, and the video is entirely false," Miranda said in a press release reported by WLWT. "Please continue to report the video as misinformation."
The scam has flooded auditor offices statewide. Miranda said she has heard from colleagues across Ohio who are fielding a surge of calls. Franklin County Auditor Michael Stinziano issued a separate consumer alert on Wednesday, Aug. 5, confirming there is no recently passed federal legislation and no official form by that name. On YouTube, the video appears under multiple usernames, but the content is identical each time.
Ohio's Homestead Exemption: what's actually available
The only state-administered program offering targeted property tax relief to older Ohioans is the Homestead Exemption, according to Miranda's office. County auditors administer it on behalf of the state.
To qualify for tax year 2026, according to the Ohio Department of Taxation, a homeowner must:
- Be at least 65 years old
- Own and occupy the home as a primary residence
- Have Ohio Adjusted Gross Income of $41,000 or less, excluding Social Security, based on their 2025 tax return
The exemption shields the first $29,000 of a qualifying home's assessed value from local property taxes, appearing as a credit on the tax bill. Applications must be filed with the county auditor by Dec. 31, 2026. Homeowners already receiving the exemption do not need to reapply.
How to protect yourself
Miranda's office asks residents who encounter the video to report it as misinformation on the platform where they see it. Residents seeking accurate information about property tax relief can visit hcauditor.org or contact the Hamilton County Auditor's Office at 138 E. Court St., Cincinnati, Ohio 45202.
