I was almost Scammed.
In 2009 I saw where the market was going on Kauai and became a REO agent. I did well but now the REO market on Kauai has dried up. 80% of my business is now traditional real estate. I still like to get REO listings and was thrilled when I pulled in my office parking lot and got a call from a man identifying himself as an Asset Manager with IREOPRO and that he had 2 assets to assign to me if I was the right agent. Well boy am I ever the right agent. We spoke for 10 minutes in the parking lot. I was detailing my experience, building rapport. I even told him he made my day! However one comment he made struck me as odd. He said their asset management company pays 6% commission and that their company does not take a referral fee. Every legitimate REO servicer I have used takes a referral fee or pays a reduced commission.
I started walking to my office and asked him for the addresses of the properties he had for me. The first property I looked up on my MLS. I was familiar with this property and knew that the property hadn't been foreclosed on yet. I mentioned this to him and he acknowledged that, but I would get the listing when it was. He still wanted me to do the BPO and occupancy check. I asked him if I would get paid for completing the BPO. He said "No" they are not a BPO mill. I asked him for the address of the second property. He gave it to me and on the MLS it listed a local bank as the current lien holder. I have done business with this bank. They don't outsource. To test him I asked what bank did he have as the lien holder. He said OneWest Bank. I forgot to mention to him in detailing my experience, that I am also a REO agent for OneWest Bank. It's been awhile since I have had a listing from them but I'm pretty sure they don't outsource either.
I told him to email me his information and that I would Google him. If he was legit I would proceed. Well of course the email didn't come. I mention this phone call to an associate Broker Sheila Morales. She said "been there done that" and told me it was a scam. They even want you to pay a hefty fee for using there platform to complete the no payment BPOS. I did Google them. At first I Googled the phone number 302-212-0635 and nothing came up. But fortunately Sheila remembered the name of the company and yup sure enough there was a warning on a REO PRO BLOG warning other agents about their high pressure sales pitch. Coincidentally (or not) the company's name sounds a lot like the legitimate REO PRO Platform.
So I didn't fall for the scam but I do feel violated. I told him he made my day. I spent time selling myself to him. I was excited and I was let down. At least I can warn others not to fall for this scam. My new REO passwords are now a version of SCAMMERS_SUCK!
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