Today was another one of those busy days with most of it spent working out my my car. When I arrived back at the office after a 7 PM listing appointment, I had a few minutes to catch up on email.

I had received a nice email from a couple in Georgia. They had been looking for a lease and found what they thought was a great deal. Being concerned they did a Google search for the "owner's" phone number and up came a blog we wrote in June 2011 titled, "Rental Scams Hit the Area…Again" which warned people about a scam being run in the Dallas market. I guess the scammer has moved on to Atlanta.

Here's the note the couple sent me:

My husband and I have worked in the mortgage industry for years so we know about people trying to rent properties in foreclosure. We did a little research on this property just to make sure it wasn't being foreclosed on and never did we imagine it's even worse. A scam, thanks to you we didn't get scammed. Here is a copy of the email we received regarding a listing that was showing with a Real Estate agent for $1650 and the "owner" listing on craigslist was asking for $800. My husband texted back and forth a few times asking questions and things started to get a little more suspicious. Finally before I provided the information requested I Googled the +234 # and came across your web posting. Thanks again!

You have to love it when something you wrote saves people you will never meet from being scammed!

Photo licensed form iStockPhoto

 

Tom Branch and Gina Branch, The Branch Team with RE/MAX Dallas Suburbs, service the greater North Dallas suburbs including Dallas, Plano, Allen, McKinney, Frisco, Lewisville, and Carrollton.  While Gina concentrates on traditional listings and buyer/tenant representation, Tom specializes in assisting distressed homeowners to avoid foreclosure.  Tom and Gina have published two books (Achieving Rock Star Status and The Field Guide to Short Sales) and are available for speaking engagements in the greater Dallas - Fort Worth Metroplex. Subscribe to The Branch Team Blog.

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Post is included in group: "Whacked"!!!
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23 Comments on A Different Kind of ActiveRain Success Story

20 Most Recent Comments Displayed Show All

MAY
01
2012
333,668 Points 6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Tom - You never know how one of your blogs is going to touch someone.  Good thing they found your blog or they quite possibly could have been out a bunch of money. 
8:40pm • #4
354,654 Points 19 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom-You just never know how when a good deed really turns into a really good deed and helps someone.
9:38pm • #5
966,201 Points 60 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Tom:  You just have to love it when something like this happens.  I know it's nice to make commissions and all... but there are days when hearing good news like this... and finding out you have saved someone from something horrible like this scam... well... it just makes your entire day !  Good for you !
11:21pm • #6
MAY
02
2012
466,170 Points 50 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Tom, that's the best success story! I dislike seeing folks scammed by the unscrupulous. Good job, Thank you for your post today,
12:16am • #7
1,137,621 Points 153 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wow, Tom, that is so great.  Sounds like you saved them a lot of money and heartache.  That is great to hear.
3:20am • #8
796,355 Points 80 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Wonderful Tom, when you can contribute to others lives and educate them at the same time.
3:50am • #9
411,722 Points 15 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Reading that story could have had such a different ending.  Well done!
4:48am • #10
379,000 Points 5 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom, 

Kudo's!  It's annoying that the scammers are out there, but better to prepared and NOT get scammed.

All the best, Michelle
5:36am • #11
275,890 Points 17 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

This is a great success story.  the scammers are out there everywhere and kudos to you for helping protect people against this one.
5:37am • #12
838,594 Points 69 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Here is success in motion where doing the right thing in the moment just sails into eternity too. A useful meaningful post was planted and now it has matured and is helping people. I wonder how many read it, took the heads up and had a warm feeling for you but never spoke up? .Good .Karma to you I think it is called...well done Tom
7:14am • #13
467,612 Points 40 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I like hearing stories like this! It's a good thing and part of our responsbility as realtors to act (and blog) with integrity!
7:14am • #14
651,932 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

That's awesome Tom!  Way to go!                                                                                                        
8:02am • #15
231,678 Points 8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Great job Tom. You never know who is reading or how your post can help someone. It was nice of them to email you and let you know.
8:17am • #16
300,008 Points 7 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Hi Tom, way to go!! One thing I don't get... the scammers were using the same phone number?     
9:28am • #17
3 Featured Posts Outside Blog

Tom, it's really nice when you can help out people BEFORE they've been scammed.  I had this happen to a rental listing of mine recently, too.  I went and posted signs on the inside of the windows to make sure all renters called me and took the lockboxes off.
9:51am • #18
760,712 Points 106 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Tom, it just goes to show that consumers are reading our posts. That is the biggest reason agents give me for not blogging here. Why use a platform that is only read by fellow agents? How wrong they are.
1:26pm • #19
382,724 Points 8 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

It feels good all over kind of success story. And it was really sweet of them to let you know about it. Well-done, Tom.
5:33pm • #20
872,258 Points 47 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom, this is definitely an Active Rain Success Story! It's not always about the money, is it :) We moved into a place in Ft. Lauderdale when our son was a baby, only to get 24 hour notice to move out a few months later when we found out the property had been foreclosed, unbeknownst to us. Not a good feeling.

Sharon
7:48pm • #21
870,145 Points 200 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Tom,

and that is a beautiful thing. Congrats to you and AR for getting the word out.
8:03pm • #22
MAY
03
2012
343,227 Points 12 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Called Shot Master

Tom - You know you are helping people with you blogs.  Good job!
9:12pm • #23

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