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Silver Spring, MD Home Buyers and Sellers Beware of Email Scams

By
Real Estate Agent with Thompson Company, REALTORS® 240.593.2860 MD594797

Silver Spring, MD Home Buyers and Sellers please be aware of email scams! Scammers have increasingly been targeting parties involved in Real Estate transactions!

For Sale in Silver SpringIf you are under contract to purchase or sell your home you could be on the receiving end of email scams. How so? Pending properties are easily identified online and so are mailing/email addresses.

If the criminals manage to hack an email account of any of the parties invovled in the transaction, they'll gain insight knowledge (names, closing date etc.) and the possibility to create authentic looking emails.

Make sure you don't disclose sensitive information via email, like never.

And know that your REALTOR® will not ask you to wire money to the company's account for closing!

If you receive any of the following emails - or similar - please contact your REALTOR® first to verify whether or not this is legit:

1. An email from an electronic signature service and your REALTOR® did not alert you that one is coming.

2. An email that looks to be from a title company with wiring instructions, updated documents (click to view - don't click!) or important closing information. In Silver Spring, MD and beyond your REALTOR® works closely with the processor at the Title company, more often than not, all communication/documents are send via your REALTOR®.

3. An email that looks to be from an appraiser or pest inspector or any other party that could possibly be involved with a Real Estate transaction asking you to wire money or download/view a document.

DON'T wire money and DON'T click on documents before you have verified that it's indeed from any of the parties involved!

DO be vigilant and DO call your REALTOR®!

Posted by

Andrea Bedard
Thompson Co., REALTORS®

Silver Spring, Maryland
andreabedard.com

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Comments(5)

Beth Atalay
Cam Realty and Property Management - Clermont, FL
Cam Realty of Clermont FL

Hi Andrea, criminals never stop working. This is so scary, thanks for sharing.

Mar 31, 2016 01:30 PM
Andrea Bedard

I wish they would get a job! It's scary and annoying.

Apr 01, 2016 09:33 AM
Tammy Lankford,
Lane Realty Eatonton, GA Lake Sinclair, Milledgeville, 706-485-9668 - Eatonton, GA
Broker GA Lake Sinclair/Eatonton/Milledgeville

They just keep coming up with new scams every time we figure one out and start to warn people.  Verify Verify Verify if you think it's from the attorney or your agent with a call or text.

Mar 31, 2016 01:50 PM
Andrea Bedard

I had clients not so long ago who received one of those "Updated closing docs" authentic looking emails. Good thing they called me first and didn't click on the link!

Apr 01, 2016 09:34 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

I have been shocked at the scams of having people wire money, supposedly to Title Companies. How do people live with themselves?

Mar 31, 2016 10:22 PM
Andrea Bedard

I just can't understand Mimi. They must not have a conscience or a heart.

Apr 01, 2016 09:35 AM
Larry Johnston
Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN
Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Andrea Bedard ,  Good reminder.  We need have our buyers call us before wiring anything.

Apr 01, 2016 06:58 AM
Andrea Bedard

I advise all my clients now to always check with me first! Just a text will clear it up quickly.

Apr 01, 2016 09:36 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Andrea, it is so sad to see so many scams out there, and especially when it involves our real estate transactions!  

Apr 04, 2016 11:27 PM