Special offer
John Mosier, Prescott's Patriot Agent 928 533-8142 (Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert)

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Rainmaker
5,238,990
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Chicago, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Not my cup of tea. Deposit should be a wire transfer to a title company or attorney's escrow account. Once you mention that the buyer will develop cold feet. Also a deal breaker would be proof of funds verified with a reputable financial institution.

Feb 04, 2019 11:08 AM
Rainmaker
1,056,262
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

3 words: Glub glub glub!
No one does business like that. You know that and I do too.

Feb 04, 2019 10:21 AM
Rainer
347,398
Kris Collis, Associate Broker
Smart Way America Realty - East Stroudsburg, PA
Professional Results you Expect 570-801-5525

no thinking required, the context speaks for itself.  

delete,delete,delete.  

block,block,block.  

report,report,report

Feb 04, 2019 11:04 AM
Rainmaker
2,399,894
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

The phishing (fraud) that comes to mind to me came from false ads of MY listings (for sale) being offered as rentals on Craigs List.

Feb 04, 2019 11:27 AM
Rainmaker
632,925
Buzz Mackintosh
Mackintosh REALTORS - Frederick, MD
“Experience, reliable, leadership”

Received many phishing emails, but not text....I would block / report the #

Feb 04, 2019 10:42 AM
Rainmaker
2,221,377
Anthony Acosta - ALLATLANTAcondos.com
Harry Norman, REALTORS® - Atlanta, GA
Associate Broker

I do not conduct business that way. 

Feb 04, 2019 03:44 PM
Ambassador
5,253,985
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

Yes - emails and texts. It's rampant, John!

Feb 04, 2019 03:18 PM
Rainmaker
1,506,013
Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA
https://HugginsHomes.com - Thousand Oaks, CA
Residential Real Estate and Investment Properties

Yes, and I've written a blog about one of them here too.

Feb 04, 2019 03:14 PM
Rainer
467,663
David M. Dwares
Title Professionals Corp. - Fort Lauderdale, FL
Title guy with a broker license

Please make sure you let the title company know about the message behind the deposit check.

This is not really phishing but rather a money scam. The $90,000.00 deposit check will be a (really good) fake cashier's check. 

You deposit the check and in about a week, (after your bank puts the funds in your account but before the fake check gets discoverd by the bank), the buyer will cancel asking you to send back the deposit less your 5%.  You send back $85,500 and pocket a cool $4,500.00.  Then about 7 to 10 days later your bank reverses the deposit letting you know the original $90,000.00 check was a fake and you are out $85,500.00.

I haven't encountered this in a couple of years. The last one we got was a cashier's check for $330,000.00 from a Canadian Bank and it even had a foil security seal on it.  Email from buyer's "agent" said buyer was the owner of a Canadian company and was buying a 3 million dollar condo in Miami.  When they canceled the transaction, I sent them their original check back.

 

 

Feb 04, 2019 03:05 PM
Rainmaker
4,582,098
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Oh, yeah and one more question:  where exactly is that bridge in Brooklyn?

Feb 04, 2019 11:30 AM
Rainer
175,886
Merv Edinger & Associates
Remax Nova - Halifax, NS

I would have to agree with you on that.

We seem to receive these every month in some form or another. The latest scheme is that REALTORS® listing photos are being used on such sites as Craigslist & Kijiji to advertise properties for rent by scandulous non-property owners who are asking for a security deposit or first & last months' rent in advance with the promise to Fed ex the keys to the home to the prospective tenant. 

Feb 04, 2019 11:29 AM
Rainmaker
1,712,776
Joe Pryor
The Virtual Real Estate Team - Oklahoma City, OK
REALTOR® - Oklahoma Investment Properties

I have not, fortunately.

Feb 04, 2019 10:33 AM
Rainmaker
1,201,477
Doug Dawes
Keller Williams Evolution - 447 Boston Street, Suite #5, Topsfield, MA - Topsfield, MA
Your Personal Realtor®

We all experience phishing and real estate is no different. Trouble is, people fall for it

Feb 05, 2019 05:56 AM
Rainmaker
679,404
Diana Dahlberg
1 Month Realty - Pleasant Prairie, WI
Real Estate in Kenosha, WI since 1994 262-308-3563

 

I am hitting the DELETE key ... That is not how I do business. 
Plus the sender does not know how to spell "bad sign"

Feb 04, 2019 05:52 PM
Rainmaker
5,583,328
Barbara Todaro
RE/MAX Executive Realty - Happily Retired - Franklin, MA
Previously Affiliated with The Todaro Team

that's a scammer..... no one will fall for that....

Feb 04, 2019 05:15 PM
Ambassador
6,417,184
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Phishing opportunities are everywhere, and many are very sophisticated.

Feb 04, 2019 01:12 PM
Ambassador
2,187,587
Carol Williams
Although I'm retired, I love sharing my knowledge and learning from other real estate industry professionals. - Wenatchee, WA
Retired Agent / Broker / Prop. Mgr, Wenatchee, WA

That has scam and flashing red lights written all over it!

Feb 04, 2019 01:05 PM
Rainmaker
564,494
Maria Sapio
Keller Williams of Central PA - Carlisle, PA
Real Estate Agent- Carlisle, PA. Mariasapio.com

Certainly looks 'phishy' to me too... 

Feb 04, 2019 12:26 PM
Rainmaker
921,504
Annette Lawrence , Palm Harbor, FL 727-420-4041
ReMax Realtec Group - Palm Harbor, FL
Making FLORIDA Real Estate EZ

I would make inquiry regarding a 'free toaster.'

When they PAY to have the prepaid FED EX delivered to your address, you win.

Feb 04, 2019 12:20 PM
Rainmaker
913,468
Jeff Pearl
RE/MAX Distinctive / LIC in VA - Lovettsville, VA
Full Service Full Time Realtor

Only fishing. In your scenario, me no do.

Feb 04, 2019 11:41 AM
Rainmaker
2,191,738
Michael J. Perry
KW Elite - Lancaster, PA
Lancaster, PA Relo Specialist

Most are way too obvious !!!

Feb 04, 2019 11:16 AM
Rainmaker
2,784,566
Richie Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

These tactics apply to the many looking for the foolish or naive few

Feb 04, 2019 11:07 AM
Rainmaker
5,112,421
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Realtor

More than I'd like to!

Feb 04, 2019 10:52 AM
Rainmaker
1,553,094
Thomas J. Nelson, REALTOR ® e-Pro CRS RCS-D Vets
Big Block Realty 858.232.8722 - La Jolla, CA
CEO of Vision Drive Realty - Coastal San Diego

Lot's of leads companies fishing for sucker agents, yes.

Feb 04, 2019 08:47 PM
Rainmaker
5,772,575
Ron and Alexandra Seigel
Napa Consultants - Carpinteria, CA
Luxury Real Estate Branding, Marketing & Strategy

Delete...A

Feb 04, 2019 04:26 PM
Rainmaker
4,175,917
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

John Mosier it looks suspicious!

Feb 04, 2019 03:25 PM
Rainmaker
1,728,156
Sandy Padula & Norm Padula, JD, GRI
HomeSmart Realty West & Florida Realty Investments - , CA
Presence, Persistence & Perseverance

We haven't received these 'gifts' for a long time; Lucky you!

Feb 04, 2019 01:41 PM
Rainmaker
7,863,162
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

Thanks for sharing your experience.

Feb 04, 2019 10:18 AM
Rainmaker
1,092,947
Diana Zaccaro Broker Associate
ZOOM Realty Group - Cocoa Beach, FL
"The Accidental Blogger" Cocoa Beach, Florida

So many red flags...just block and delete.

Feb 04, 2019 07:08 PM
Rainmaker
4,960,409
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Delete it for sure.

Feb 04, 2019 05:54 PM
Ambassador
3,138,591
Wanda Kubat-Nerdin - Wanda Can!
Red Rock Real Estate (435) 632-9374 - St. George, UT
St. George Utah Area Residential Sales Agent

No reason to ask for your bank account information...SCAM...Mark as SPAM and AUTO PURGE! 

Feb 05, 2019 06:24 AM
Rainmaker
4,434,177
Gita Bantwal
RE/MAX Centre Realtors - Warwick, PA
REALTOR,ABR,CRS,SRES,GRI - Bucks County & Philadel

No.

Feb 04, 2019 05:37 PM
Ambassador
3,349,369
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

Smells like fish to me. 

Feb 05, 2019 02:46 PM
Rainmaker
4,800,132
Gabe Sanders
Real Estate of Florida specializing in Martin County Residential Homes, Condos and Land Sales - Stuart, FL
Stuart Florida Real Estate

You're probably right.  Ask them to call you.

Feb 05, 2019 08:40 AM
Rainmaker
5,877,319
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Definitely, DELETE!

Feb 09, 2019 06:40 AM
Rainmaker
1,322,934
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

Absolutely! Where there is money to be stolen, there are thieves trying to do so.

Feb 08, 2019 09:04 AM
Rainmaker
519,324
Dan Tabit
Keller Williams Bellevue - Sammamish, WA

Not that I know of, but I have some Nigerian Princes in my data base and some big deposits coming in.  ;)

 

Feb 05, 2019 08:07 PM
Rainmaker
3,986,308
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Yes many times

Feb 05, 2019 07:19 PM
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