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I think I just got SPAMMED!

By
Real Estate Agent with Lattimer Realty

Many of us have been scammed at one time or another but I think tonight, I just got spammed

I received an email on my blackberry tonight that read (I've changed the original name, address, telephone number and email address for privacy reasons):

email lead or email spamHello! I am beginning my search to buy my first home with my girl 
friend, and I am first looking for the right agent to work with. We 
are looking in the Belleville, Bloomfield, Clifton area. I am in 
talks with lenders, and will have that portion taken care of soon as 
well. I am looking to purchase in the next few months. Through my 
preliminary search online I found a short sale house that I think is 
great. I also read online that I should find a buying agent with 
experience in short sales.

Now being that am new to this process and trying to learn as much as I 
can. I am sending emails out to several agents that I found online, 
including you. I am looking for the person with the most experience 
in short sales, who can educate me more on that process, and who 
strikes me as the best to handle my situation. Please respond in an 
email with your insight on short sales and if you feel qualified to 
take me on.

Thank you, and I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,

JOHN DOE
123 Main Street
Hawthorne, NJ 07506
201-555-5555                                                                                                          
johndoe@aol.com

Since I was at an affair tonight when I received the message, I sent a quick, short response from my blackberry thanking him for contacting me, providing some short sale insight, the short sale process, my short sale experienceand suggesting that we speak tomorrow to discuss in detail.     

Immediately following my email to him, I received an automatic response with what was clearly a spam website link.  I didn't click on the link for fear of a virus and I didn't post the link here for fear of infecting someone else's computer should they click on it.  I think I just got spammed!

I just got spammedComing home tonight, I searched the Lead or Spammer's telephone number he provided which showed up as a Newark, New Jersey telephone number.  Then searched the Lead or Spammer's name which didn't show up with an address but did show up as Hawthorne, New Jersey which is what he did list in the email as his town.  Don't get me wrong I've gotten spammed before but usually its more noticeable, there's no telephone number or if there is it starts with 01-, usually they are located outside the USA, a little bit more obvious than this spammer's email content.

So now tomorrow, do I follow up on the Lead or Spammer and call the telephone number provided or do I just face the fact that I just got spammed!

Kimberly A Norgard
Devlin McNiff Halstead Real Estate - East Hampton, NY

That's a tough one.  Sounds like spam.  Did you say you tried calling and got an automated response.  Perhaps email this person, tell him/her of your trepidation to follow through and why.  They should have an explanation.  If they don't, well, you did the best you could do and it was probably spam in the first place.

Jan 22, 2011 06:44 PM
Susan Goulding
Crown Key Realty, Inc; Tracy & Mountain House Sales and Property Management - Tracy, CA
Northern CA - Tracy & Mountain House Real Estate

If you've checked the phone number and it can back via google as a spammer -- i'd let it go. Doesn't sound like a loyal client.

Jan 22, 2011 06:49 PM
Wallace S. Gibson, CPM
Gibson Management Group, Ltd. - Charlottesville, VA
LandlordWhisperer

It happens to the BEST of us * although usually there are misspellings and punctuation errors in "foreign" SPAM

Jan 22, 2011 07:10 PM
Jon Quist
REALTY EXECUTIVES ARIZONA TERRITORY - Tucson, AZ
Tucson's BUYERS ONLY Realtor since 1996

Could have been spam, or just some punk "Joe College" amusing himself and his buddies.

Jan 22, 2011 07:29 PM
James Harner
Considering Selling Your Home? Call 610-310-7646 first - Royersford, PA
James Harner Group - Philadelphia PA Real Estate

hmm..well, you've tried giving hime the information he needed, right? but the letter came back as a spam..well, what you can do is resend the mail and see what happens. if the same response comes back to you, then better let it go.

Jan 22, 2011 10:54 PM
Juli Vosmik
Dominion Fine Properties - Scottsdale, AZ
Scottsdale/Cave Creek, AZ real estate 480-710-0739

Sounds like you got spammed - I don't like the contents inside of the can (would never make it long in Hawaii) and hate when it happens on my personal phone and computer.  But, it's the nature of the beast. 

Jan 23, 2011 08:16 AM
Gina Chirico
Lattimer Realty - Fairfield, NJ
Real Estate Agent - Essex County, New Jersey

Ok so as an update, today I tried calling, voicemail picked up but it was automated so it didn't give the person's name of who I was calling.  I attempted a second email and received a reply with the same spam link as the first time.  About 4 hours later I received a message from the "lead" who said he's been having problems with his email but asked a few more questions which I have yet to respond to.  As this point, I would prefer to speak directly on the phone.  If he's a serious buyer and a true lead, why wouldn't he opt to talk on the phone??

Jan 23, 2011 12:05 PM
James Harner
Considering Selling Your Home? Call 610-310-7646 first - Royersford, PA
James Harner Group - Philadelphia PA Real Estate

great point, Gina. Guess better let this one go. if he's truly interested, he WILL write to you again. thanks for the update!

Jan 25, 2011 09:47 PM