BEWARE! Do You Know What Is Happening With Your Ads?

Seriously, do you know what is happening with all your marketing efforts?

Many years ago, brokers and agents could post their listings on different site for exposure, get an offer, and hopefully, a smooth closing. Gone are the days you were able to post your property on Zillow, Trulia, Backpage, Craig's List, etc and not worry about a identity thieves, spammers and/or criminal removing your photos and content from the ad and using it for their own unethical purposes.

Of course, the identity thievs have been around for a long time and as long as people respond by providing confidential information and the items the thieves can use, the identity thieves will continue to pray on those that are desparate.

When I saw it, I contacted the agent to let him know. This particular house was rented over a year ago. Apparently, the thief store a photo from a previous ad or from one of the websites all brokers and agents use.

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SAMPLE Email from a Real Estate Identity Thief is below. This particular add stood out like a sore thumb so I contacted the writer just to see the response. The true agent's name was used but reversed in the ad. There are so many things wrong with the ad.

There are so many things wrong with the original ad below on Craig's List:

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$800 / 4br - Townhouse for rent ()

Date: 2011-08-01, 7:24AM EDT
Reply to: hous-4zkar-2523757085@craigslist.org ^{[Errors when replying to ads?]}

amazing 2 story family, Huge Master up with adjcnt office! Guest bedroom and full bath down! Walk to Starbucks on Davis. Close to RTP, RDU, 540 & shopping! New h/wood entire downstairs!

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RESPONSE TO EMAIL INQUIRY<!-- START CLTAGS -->

From: Sshdjdnh Kdndjh [mailto:sshdjdnhkdndjh@yahoo.com]
Sent: Tuesday, August 02, 2011 1:51 PM
To: Subject: Re: $800 / 4br - Townhouse for rent 

Thanks for your email and interest in renting my house..I am -----------------, the owner of the house you are making inquiry of…Actually I resided in the house with my family, my wife and my only daughter before and presently we have moved out due to my transfer from my work now in Warsaw,Poland. Presently my house is still available for rent for 800 USD (rent already includes utilities).More so Now, i am currently in the (West Africa)for an international Christian follower’s crusade..Pls i want you to note that i spent a lot on my property that i want to give to you for rent,so i will solicit for your absolute maintenance of this house and want you to treat it as your own, It is not the money that is the main problem but i want you to keep it tidy all the time so that i will be glad to see it neat when i come for a check up.I also want you to let me have trust in you as i always stand on my word.
 
 
Address of the house.. (..................................)

It has a dramatic entry foyer with ceramic floor. Extremely spacious rooms throughout with lots of big windows…nice and light! New neutral paint and some newer carpet..Very quiet, low traffic area. New fridge I believe its absolutely a perfect home for you and your family.Utilities include Water,Trash,Sewer,Gas Etc...SO IF YOU ARE REALLY INTERESTED I WILL WANT YOU TO FILL THE RENT APPLICATION FORM BELOW.



                                                  RENT APPLICATION FORM.
FIRST NAME:__________?
MIDDLE NAME:__________?
LAST NAME:__________?
PROFESSION:__________?
PHONE:
(CELL)PHONE__________?
(WORK)PHONE__________?
(HOME)PHONE__________?

(DL): ____________?

(SSN): ___________?
KIDS_____ (YES/NO), HOW MANY________
PRESENT ADDRESS: _____________________
CITY: _______________
STATE:______________
ZIP CODE: ____________
HOW LONG? ___________IF RENTING
WHY ARE YOU LEAVING__________?
IF THIS HOUSE IS BEING GIVEN TO YOU,
HOW LONG DO YOU INTEND STAYING? ____________?
WHEN DO YOU INTEND MOVING IN?______________?
IF YOU HAVE A PET,
NAME OF PET: _____________?
KIND OF PETS: _____________?
HABITS
DO YOU SMOKE ______________ ?
DO YOU DRINK ______________?
DO YOU WORK LATE NIGHT?____?



Looking forward to hearing from you with all this details so that i can have it in my file in case of issuing the receipt for you and contacting you…Await your urgent reply so that we can discuss on how to get the document and the keys to you,please we are giving you all this based on trust and again i will want you to stick to your words,you know that we have not seen yet and only putting everything into Gods hands,so please do not let us down in this our property and God bless you more as you do this…The house is available for rent at the moment so you are free to move in as soon as you wish to my number..(+23481-6984-2412).…A Deposit of $800 (which happens to be the security deposit) is required before moving in…Feel free to call me for more information and arrangements on how to get the keys and other necessary documents delivered to you...The house will be available for rent for a period of 4 years so you have a choice of deciding how long you intend staying there…

God Bless,
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