ARE YOU BEING SAFE?
As real estate agents, stagers, inspectors or anyone else who regularly enters other people's homes, we all know the importance of safety. We know that we need to be cautious at all times and to pay attention at all times. In the past few weeks of encountering what appears to be fraudulent buyers, the safety radar is going up a notch.
I spent about an hour on the phone yesterday with our District Attorney's office. What I learned was quite interesting. Apparently they are seeing an increase in a type of "white collar" crime targeting small businesses. It appears the unsavory folks target female owned or run businesses. What they are concerned about the most is that they believe these people are "scouting out" agents to possibly personally harm them or some sort of identity theft.
These supposed "client's seem very normal. Even Googling them and their businesses show them to be legitimate. These people are master manipulators. They go through all of the motions to purchase a property, even having them inspected. The DA believes these people are perhaps looking for an opportunity to be alone in a vacant home or building with the agent.
Fortunately for myself and the agents who work with me, we have not been personally threatened. What is interesting however, is that both of these fraudulent home purchases were on vacant homes both listed by our firm. This is sending shivers down my spine!
No matter how long you have been in the business, take time to listen to your instincts and never, ever meet someone in a vacant home that you don't know. Take a colleague with you if you are not sure. Always meet them in a public place. Always let someone know whom you are meeting and what time.
The first "fake buyer" that I dealt with did send major red flags all over the place. Thankfully, I clued in on them and would never meet this person at the house alone. When I did meet him at the house, there was always someone there with me. The man appeared to be agitated at this and from then on became very difficult to deal with.
Be safe my fellow agents! Keep your eyes and ears open! If something doesn't feel right - go with your gut!
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