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Be Careful when Changing your Address - SCAM ALERT

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 DRE# ER40011786

 

 

I had a buyer call stating she was a victim of a scam and that I should help get the word out so many more are not affected when changing a home address. 

 

Change of address

She likes to do most things on on-line versus standing in line, so she went onto USPS's site to fill out a change of address form.   She was shocked the price went up so much for changing her address, but went ahead and filled out the on-line form as well as her credit card information.   She got a confirmation number.

 

Having to mail something yesterday, she asked the clerk why the huge increase in changing her address, and they stated there is another web site that LOOKS like theirs, that charges $39.95 (versus the $1 the post office charges) and they forward this information to the Post Office.    This will absolutely get the change of address done, but this middle person is collecting LOTS of dollars from their victims!      My buyer was going to dispute the charges, but what happens with her mail then?     There is no phone number on this web site, and the email listed on this site is bogus.    You get sucked in.....

 

So, bottom line --- BE SURE you are on the Official United State Postal Service site before you enter a credit card, and the fee is JUST $1, not $39.95!

 

 

Posted by

Joan Cox
Broker/Owner, REALTOR®
House to Home, Inc.

Serving the Denver Metro area including all suburbs


Helping Buyers and Sellers achieve their real estate dreams, one house at a time!

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Comments(116)

Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Bruce, they are performing a service that does change their address, so they have not been put out of business.

Apr 11, 2018 06:50 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Ron, vultures is right!

Apr 11, 2018 06:50 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Dana Cottingame they come from every corner.  We have others sending notices to new homeowners asking if they would like a copy of their deed, and charging $83.   They get them FREE at closing from the title company!  

Apr 11, 2018 06:52 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

John, it is so true, we all have to be so careful! 

Apr 11, 2018 06:52 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Georgie, anything to make a buck from someone else under the table.

Apr 11, 2018 06:53 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Mary, nice to be able to share here, and hopefully save someone from this scam.

Apr 11, 2018 06:53 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jan, and hopefully save one or more from this scam! 

Apr 11, 2018 06:54 AM
Alesha A. Wilson, M.Ed.
Buy and Sell Oklahoma LLC - Oklahoma City, OK
Buy and Sell Real Estate with Confidence

Thank you for the heads up Joan Cox.   I was curious as to what sites appeared when I searched for "change of address."  There was one site "mychangeaddress" which stated they charge the $39.95 but a majority of the top searches appeared to be for the official usps and charges $1
Thank you again for the information!

Apr 11, 2018 09:11 AM
Dorte Engel
RE/MAX Leading Edge - Bowie, MD
ABC - Annapolis, Bowie, Crofton & rest of Maryland

Dear Joan,

Sounds akin to the $95 for a copy of your deed or some such foolishness.

Apr 11, 2018 08:44 PM
Jim Cheney
Saint Francis Property Santa Rosa, CA - Santa Rosa, CA
Rincon Valley Realtor 707.494.1055

Ouch, hope that's the worst of it Joan Cox 

Apr 12, 2018 01:33 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Alesha, hopefully this will save some clients some dollars!  

Apr 15, 2018 07:06 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Dorte, same thing - you do get the service, but at a much higher price.

Apr 15, 2018 07:07 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Jim, it is always something, isn't it?

Apr 15, 2018 07:07 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Dana, we always have to be so vigilant with the current scams! 

Apr 15, 2018 07:08 AM
Thomas McCombs
Century 21 HomeStar - Akron, OH

What is the process they use to change your address? Do they just forward the change form to the USPS or do they do something else? 

Isn't messing with the mail a federal offense? Might this provide an opportunity to grab some financial mail from your inbox? 

Apr 24, 2018 05:08 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Thomas, they are providing a service, just charging LOTS more, so probably the reason they have not been shut down.

Apr 24, 2018 05:37 PM
J.R. Schloemer
Kentucky Select Properties - Louisville, KY

This is some great information here, Joan Cox. I did search for things because I like to know what to look out for, but could not find anything. I did read a few articles about it, which they obviously omitted the sites from their articles. I had to read Alesha A. Wilson, M.Ed., MRP's response to even find one I could view. Thanks for the heads up and the information.

May 02, 2018 08:19 PM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

J.R., it is always wise to know what scams are out there!  

May 03, 2018 07:46 AM
Sally K. & David L. Hanson
EXP Realty 414-525-0563 - Brookfield, WI
WI Real Estate Agents - Luxury - Divorce

One more thing that consumers need to be aware of in real estate !

Jun 06, 2018 02:23 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Isn't that the truth Sally! 

Jun 26, 2018 03:05 PM