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A Virus Made Just for Real Estate Agents

By Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Real Estate Agent with Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 SA5376460000

February 20, 2015 02:35 AM

A Virus Made Just for Real Estate Agents!

About 2 weeks ago I was clacking away on my keyboard when all of a sudden, my screen froze and a pop up entered the "picture" on my screen and my speakers started beeping. It was a rude awakening that something had gone horribly wrong. A Virus Made Just for Real Estate Agents

Not knowing quite what to do, I tried to close the window(s) and my mouse wouldn't cooperate. I immediately called my computer tech who told me to shut it down.

We set up an appointment for the following week and I resigned myself to going INTO the office to work the rest of the day and thereafter.

Feeling a bit humiliated and invaded, I logged into Facebook, wondering if anyone else had experienced this pain. My post went something like this:

My computer has a virus "achew" and is on a 5 night sleepover with my tech.

Replies varied from me need to switch and buy a new Mac, sorry my new PC is about 6 months old, and to go to this site to check out blah, blah, blah. Then a very insightful post from a friend/former title rep/ computer geek told me that this particular virus is Made Just for Real Estate Agents!

Shocked I asked for more information. She replied asking if I received an e-mail with a "buyers name I didn't recognize and offer" in the subject line? To which I replied, "Yes!"

That's it. A Virus Made Just for Real Estate Agents!

So if you receive an e-mail from someone you don't recognize with a name in the subject line you don't recognize and "offer". Don't open it!

A Virus Made Just for Real Estate Agents!

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Kristin Walter

Mountain Dream Real Estate, LLC - Breckenridge, CO

Thank you Jan Green . The issue of how to keep our client's info private is so relevant, and this is a helpful tip for that! I'm sorry that happened to you, and I hope you recovered quickly!

Feb 20, 2015 03:22 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mortgage Originator - FHA/VA/Conv/Jumbo/Portfolio/Refi

NMLS #216987, IL Lic. 031.0006220, WI Licensed. APMC NMLS #175656 - New Lenox, IL

708.921.6331 - 40+ yrs experience

Thanks for sharing this info, Jan Green ... amazing what scams they think of, isn't it? It's important that we share this info with others. So thank you!

My wife had something similar happen to her yesterday (even tho not a Realtor). She got a message regarding a Windows issue and virus. Same thing happened when she tried to shut down my comp. When she booted back up ... she googled the tel. number left in the alert. Yep! Scam. You're so right when you say NOT to respond until you do more investigating. And get assistance ...

Hope you're up and running "healthy" soon ...

FEATURED IN BANANATUDE!

CONGRATULATIONS! WELL DONE!

Gene

Feb 20, 2015 03:54 AM

John Meussner

Mortgages in AZ, CA, CO, DE, FL, GA, IN, MD, MN, MT, NC, NJ, NV, OK, OR, PA, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VA, WI - Fair Oaks, CA

#MortgageMadeEasy Fair Oaks, CA 484-680-4852

Wow, I don't get why anyone would want to do this kind of stuff to other people, such a headache! Hope it gets cleared up for you quickly, and thanks for sharing!

Feb 20, 2015 05:29 AM

Dick Greenberg

New Paradigm Partners LLC - Fort Collins, CO

Northern Colorado Residential Real Estate

Hi Jan - That's just lovely. And it's all for us, too? Yet more evidence that opening attachments from any untrusted source is a very bad move - thanks for the heads up!

Feb 20, 2015 08:00 AM

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Signature Properties of Vermont - I hear you. A headache it was, too!

Chris Ann Cleland - Yeah, me included!

Kristin Walter - You're right, but in this instance the last name and "offer" in the subject line was one I didn't recognize. So this had nothing to do with anyone's info, just my computer.

Gene Mundt, Chicago-area Mortgage Lender - www.genemundt.com - Thanks! Yes, and just opening the e-mail in my situation was the ticket to virus land. Hope your computer is okay! Thank you for the feature!

Feb 20, 2015 08:10 AM

Gene Mundt, IL/WI Mort...

New Lenox, IL

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

John Meussner - yes, a royal headache. And costly. I spent a about $300 on this issue!

@Dick - There wasn't an attachment to open. Just opening the e-mail introduced the virus. I'm going to highlight that phrase in this post so everyone sees that. Thanks for commenting! Have a great weekend!

Feb 20, 2015 08:11 AM

Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert

Zion Realty - Gilbert, AZ

Broker/Owner of Zion Realty ZionRealtyAZ.com

Isn't that just lovely. Someone took the time to craft a sly little virus just for us Real Estate professionals. How thoughtful.

Feb 20, 2015 11:24 PM

Teral McDowell

Referral Patners LLC - Murphy, TX

Whoa! these bugs are getting craftier all the time and it's sad that all someone wants to do is cause harm. The other day I missed a call on my cell with a strange local number so I did a reverse look up and it came back "prank"...hmmm.

Feb 20, 2015 11:29 PM

Bill Dean

Haggerty Team St. Louis, Mo. - Fenton, MO

William Dean - Broker, Salesperson

Thanks for the heads up, isn't bad enough that we are targeted by so many folk selling us a load of junk? now there is a virus specific to Realtors, What next?

Feb 20, 2015 11:47 PM

Praful Thakkar

LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA

Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Jan Green - wow! made for only Real Estate agents - some genius who knew we will surely open that email to find out more about the buyer!

Feb 21, 2015 12:44 AM

Hannah Williams

HomeStarr Realty - Philadelphia, PA

Expertise NE Philadelphia & Bucks 215-820-3376

Jan Green We don't have enough problems now this one ..Ouy vey

Feb 21, 2015 01:14 AM

Rob Arnold

Sand Dollar Realty Group, Inc. - Altamonte Springs, FL

Metro Orlando Full Service - Investor Friendly & F

Kind of crazy. I must get 5+ offers a week from people I don't know. But typically the virus ones look obviously suspicious. Also I use gmail now and it filters out most of the problems before they ever come through.

Feb 21, 2015 01:33 AM

Jeanne Gregory

RE/MAX Southwest - Sugar Land, TX

The most important home I sell is YOURS!

Jan, Just another heads up. I got a "jury summons" from my RE/MAX.net address, which I never publicize or use, so I knew it was a scam. I reported to regional.

Feb 21, 2015 03:31 AM

Tamara Liggins

Keller Williams Realty, Saint Louis Call Me today at 314.677.6104 - Florissant, MO

Bringing Buyers & Sellers to Homes!

I wonder if people make money off of sending or creating viruses. How in the world do you have that much time on your hand to be so malicious. I learned a lesson about 6 years ago from a Facebook post said it was a video from my daughters profile so I clicked and it installed something on my PC. I watched helplessly while it deleted important stuff of my computer. I went Mac as a fix after pulling the power cord. I don't open anything up on my PC anymore it's all business on that computer. I never recovered those memories and felt slighted. Hopefully all is well with your computer and your documents and info are safe.

Feb 21, 2015 03:52 AM

Cara Marcelle Mancuso

Golden Girls with SW Desert Homes - Tucson, AZ

Call a Marana neighbor, I'm THERE!

I've never understood why folks create this viruses and send them out via email. Where is the gratification? Doesn't make sense.

Feb 21, 2015 04:45 AM

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Nicole Doty - Gilbert Real Estate Expert - Yeah, very frustrating!

Teral McDowell - That stinks!

Bill Dean - Yeah, just don't open any e-mails from someone you don't recognize!

Praful Thakkar - I couldn't believe when the computer guru told me, "made just for realtors!"

Hannah Williams - Exactly! One quick click and there it is!

Feb 22, 2015 12:15 PM

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Rob Arnold - I didn't know that Gmail filters spam and viruses from coming through? I guess since I don't use it, I wouldn't know!

Jeanne Gregory - Yikes! Thanks for sharing that tip!

Tamara Liggins - yeah! I remember that virus! What a painful experience. I don't open any attachments with jokes or forwards, but this one e-mail all I did was open it and bam!

Cara Marcelle Mancuso - Makes no sense to me either. Weird that they keep creating crazy viruses!

Feb 22, 2015 12:19 PM

Rob Arnold

Altamonte Springs, FL

Tammie White, Broker

Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN

Franklin TN Homes for Sale

I have separate emails for prospects, agents and even offers. Only one of these emails is public so if it says offer in the line and I don't know the party sending, I delete but I will tell you having a Mac is a nice thing.

Feb 22, 2015 01:15 PM

Bob Crane

Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI

Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Thanks for the warning Jan, sorry to hear about your computer's illness.

Feb 25, 2015 06:13 AM

Jan Green - Scottsdale, AZ

Value Added Service, 602-620-2699 - Scottsdale, AZ

HomeSmart Elite Group, REALTOR®, EcoBroker, GREEN

Tammie White - Good for you! I've seen others do that as well so that they know for sure if it's a legitimate offer. Sounds like a plan!

Bob Crane - Thank you! I'm back up and running now!

Feb 25, 2015 07:22 AM