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DANGER WILL ROBINSON - Phishing/Virus TRAPS Disguised as Internet Links

By Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Real Estate Broker/Owner with Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside

March 11, 2015 06:49 PM

DANGER WILL ROBINSON -
Phishing/Virus TRAPS
Disguised as Internet Links

A Client Base from Internet Inquiries offers many email opportunities to say "DANGER WILL ROBINSON" every week. This time the wording of the email was a bit odd. Replied anyway. Suspicious but still replied.

So what did the email say?
"Hello, Let me know if you can assist me with my real estate needs. Thanks Mary Cox"

I will admit that my response was a bit different than my usual. I suspected that it might turn out to be one of those Phishing/Virus Traps Disguised as Internet Links. "Interesting message. Building Shopping Centers? Single family homes? Apartments? Lots of variety in real estate needs! Bye for now."

The person's response confirmed my suspicions. A link was included in the response. Phishing/Virus Traps Disguised as Internet Links often offer links and that is where the danger lies. Click on that link and who knows what could happen to your computer and your files.

"Hi lynn, Thank you for your response, I am a first time home buyer and i need an agent to assist me with all the process , Trulia gave me your email to contact you . i hope you can assist me with buying the house. i have some listing i found on Trulia , below are the listings that I'm interested in and would love to set up a showing. (BROKEN LINK ------ DON'T WORRY!!) www.trulia.com/marycox/googledrive

if the offering price is good , we can schedule a time to meet and do the showing , i will send you proof of funds if you are ready to assist me with the property. I shared this listings below using the Google Drive pages. After viewing the listings, please let me know what you think about the: Offering price Condition of home Location of home with the criminal activities because i am just about to keep my family in a safe place. I'm going to give you a call later when i am free , let me know when you’re available to answer my questions after viewing this listings I shared with you.Regards, Mary Cox COX ENTERPRISES Asst. Region Manager 314-433-9xxx

Maybe "she" was for real? I do like the pre-qualified Buyer mentality, don't you? My reply: Hi Mary - Have to say -- I love your response! You are very well prepared for a First-Time Home Buyer! I'd love to meet with you personally. That you have some idea of your price range is so terrific! Shows good business sense - great way to start out. I have not looked at your home list link yet because I am in a meeting. Will give your choices PROPER focus when back at office after 5pm. Hopefully, you will have time to check out my Client reviews on Zillow -- I am very proud of them! Happy Client Reviews. Sincerely, Lynn

Never heard from "her" again in that email thread. Since then, I received the same message several times from supposedly "different" people. All to get me to click on the fraudulent link!

"DANGER WILL ROBINSON" -- the link was the big tip-off for me that this was Phishing/Virus Traps Disguised as Internet Links. I investigated the link's properties to see where it would have gone if I had clicked on it.

I was able to find the forward to an http://bit.ly/#xXxx (BROKEN LINK ------ DON'T WORRY!!) destination. It was not the Google document it proported to be.

"DANGER WILL ROBINSON" --
Don't click on links from people you don't know!!!!

Even links coming from your friends may be compromised. Don't click!!!

Let seeing the link itself WARN you that there may be possible Phishing/Virus Traps Disguised as Internet Links waiting for you. Call your friend and ask if that is

Have a happy day -
Lynn

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Michael Jacobs

Pasadena, CA

Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hi Lynn -- lots of scariness out there masquerading as potential leads.

Mar 11, 2015 07:02 PM

Joe Petrowsky

Mortgage Consultant, Right Trac Financial Group, Inc. NMLS # 2709 - Manchester, CT

Your Mortgage Consultant for Life

Good morning Lynn. I have never purchased any leads, but see emails about such offer all the time and delete all of them. I's always looking to grow my business organically.

Mar 11, 2015 07:24 PM

Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Michael Jacobs
Good Morning! Yes, potential "stories" more likely ... Have a wonderful day - we have daffodils bursting out all over Atlanta! So pretty! Lynn

Mar 11, 2015 07:30 PM

Mary Weiss

Seattle, WA

Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Joe Petrowsky Not all Internet "leads" are purchased. People contact me due to Bloigging or just from Google picking up my writing. Answering questions on Trulia has brought some folks over the years. It is almost impossible now to find out the FIRST source. B U T wrote a cash contract yesterday for one Client who came to us via an Internet call. It can happen! Hope springs eternal in me! Have a happy day - Lynn

Mar 11, 2015 07:34 PM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Lynn! Your response is fabulous. Of course, the first email from the "lead" raised any number of questions to my mind. Besides, doesn't Trulia immediately send us some message when someone is contacting us? So if we didn't see that message, it might be a good hint that this is a scam. I'm saving your response for my own use.

Mar 11, 2015 09:33 PM

Mary Weiss

Zillow Group Mortgages - Seattle, WA

Trainer & Content Manager

You can never be too careful with these scammers. They'll do anything to defraud a person, but your response to her last email was great. Stopped her right in her tracks.

Mar 12, 2015 06:36 AM

Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Nina Hollander
So nice to see your sweet face first thing this morning! And, yes, the "out-of-pattern" from Trulia certainly is another clue!
Have a happy day -
Lynn

Mar 12, 2015 06:53 AM

Nina Hollander, Broker

Charlotte, NC

Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Mary Weiss Thanks for stopping by! You guys are so busy - can't even imagine where you found the time! Thanks for the added words of warning!
Have a successful day -
Lynn

Mar 12, 2015 06:54 AM

Mary Weiss

Seattle, WA

Mary Weiss

Zillow Group Mortgages - Seattle, WA

Trainer & Content Manager

We are all caught up on everything today, so we've had little downtime, which has been really nice!

Mar 12, 2015 07:06 AM

Lynn B. Friedman CRS A...

Atlanta, GA

Nina Hollander, Broker

Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC

Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

Hey Lynn... your note was a nice way for me to start winding up my day, as I wind myself up for a crazy weekend!

Mar 12, 2015 07:12 AM

Jon Zolsky, Daytona Beach, FL

Daytona Condo Realty, 386-405-4408 - Daytona Beach, FL

Buy Daytona condos for heavenly good prices

Yes, it is a variation of another scam, which was so prevalent a few weeks ago.

Apr 01, 2015 11:13 AM

TeamCHI - Complete Home Inspections, Inc.

Complete Home Inspections, Inc. - Brentwood, TN

Home Inspectons - Nashville, TN area - 615.661.029

Good morning Lynn. The folks who dream up these phishing expeditions would use their talents in a more constructive manner, it is amazing what they can do. Hell does have a place for these folks.

Apr 10, 2015 06:12 PM

Lynn B. Friedman CRS A...

Atlanta, GA

Lynn B. Friedman CRS Atlanta, GA 404-617-6375

Atlanta Homes ODAT Realty - Love our Great City - Love our Clients! Buckhead - Midtown - Westside - Atlanta, GA

Concierge Service for Our Atlanta Sellers & Buyers

Michael Thornton LOVE THE PIC!! Thanks for stopping by!

BTW - Your destination for them may be too pleasant ...
Have a great day -
Lynn

Apr 11, 2015 08:53 AM

Larry Johnston

Broker, Friends & Neighbors Real Estate and Elkhart County Subdivisions, LLC - Elkhart, IN

Broker,Friends & Neighbors Real Estate, Elkhart,IN

Hi Lynn B. Friedman , We have to be very careful these days. We can't take anything n the comuter serious. They just need to call on the phone, for starters.

Apr 17, 2015 11:17 AM