Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

I am very vigilant about not clicking on anything not expected or looking odd, like the .ru extension you are talking about. But I know lots of people don't look that closely.

Feb 21, 2017 10:45 AM
Paul Antonelli
Antonelli Realty - Saint Cloud, FL
Broker Owner; Antonelli Realty

Thanks for sharing. It's definitely getting worse out there. Title Company and realtors I know have been affected. 

Feb 21, 2017 10:53 AM
Jim Paulson

I am not a big fan of a bigger government, but I would hope there was an agency we could report these to that would actually take action.  I see them as a crime in progress yet no one seems to care.

Feb 21, 2017 11:21 AM
Grant Schneider
Performance Development Strategies - Armonk, NY
Your Coach Helping You Create Successful Outcomes

Hi  Jim - yes that is very said.  I will bet you that the number of downloads is fake. 

Feb 21, 2017 10:55 AM
Jim Paulson

Grant Schneider I never thought about the fake downloads.  I hope you are right since I would hate to see that many people's systems be hacked already.  Sadly, the number could be way higher.

Feb 21, 2017 11:19 AM
Jim Paulson
Progressive Realty (Boise Idaho) www.Progressive-Realty.info - Boise, ID
Owner,Broker

Our Better Business Bureau has a Scam Tracker on their website.

https://www.bbb.org/scamtracker

Check it out, you will be amazed at what is happening in your area.  in the past two years, it shows 570 scams in Boise, Idaho;  399 in Nampa/Caldwell, etc.

To my associates here on ActiveRain, you might even post the map for your area on your localism pages.  Be vigilant clicking!

Feb 21, 2017 11:17 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster REALTORS®, Gainesville, VA - Bristow, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Wow!  Very important to make sure we know the source of the products and apps were are downloading.

Feb 21, 2017 11:35 AM
Jim Paulson

Chris Ann Cleland I think that will be blog post for tomorrow:  How to check the source code of an email.  I will pull up samples of some of the scam ones I am sure to receive today.

Feb 21, 2017 11:52 AM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
www.iCharlotteHomes.com | The Maxwell House Group | RE/MAX Executive | (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The right Charlotte REALTOR!

Good catch Jim! You really need to be vigilant when you get emals even from people you know. I've seen people's address books get hacked & send out malicious emails perporting to come from someone you know. 

Feb 21, 2017 11:41 AM
Jim Paulson

Debe Maxwell, CRS yes, one thing I tell my students in the ePRO class is to always add yourself to your own email contacts.  That way if you ever see an email from yourself with weird attachment or link, you know to immediately send out a message to everyone in your address address book that you were hacked!  Sometimes, people spoof email addresses.  When in doubt, look at the source code to be sure it is coming from where you think it is.

Feb 21, 2017 11:51 AM
Anna Banana Kruchten CRS, CRB, Phoenix Broker
HomeSmart Real Estate BR030809000 - Phoenix, AZ
602-380-4886

Jim we have to be ever vigilant looking for these low lifes scammers. If I get something that looks weird and I know the person I'll give them a call and say - hey I think you got hacked.

Feb 21, 2017 01:00 PM
Myrl Jeffcoat
GreatWest Realty - Sacramento, CA
Greater Sacramento Real Estate Agent

As time has gone by, the perpetrators of these things have become more sophisticated.  It is important to be very cautious!

Feb 21, 2017 05:08 PM