I’ve received numerous spam text messages about “awesome website providers” and “how to increase my sales”… old news! I’m a former real estate agent with 20+ years in the business so I understand how things roll.
I just got a “phishy” text about doing an inspection in my home town on June 13! I replied with a “where and what’s the best time” since I was too busy to call back right away - no reply. Feeling a bit suspicious, I looked up his name on the California Dept of Real Estate… nothing close! hmm.
Is this common or is it just my day? How do you go about graciously “vetting” your agent calls? Any advice is greatly appreciated!
Thanks,
JM
I would think nobody loves me if I didn’t get 6-10 emails a day, and a few calls! Text not so much since we do not advertise a cell number that can be sent text on our site!
The scammers typically use terms like “I will want to know” or other terminology that is a bit off. But the dead giveaway is when they want to mail a check, followed up by a claim that the check was for more than the inspection amount and you are to pay the mold guy or other contractor from the excess funds.
Getting a request for an inspection 2 weeks out is another give away if the home is on the MLS. Typically when I get those types of requests, the house has only been on the market for less than 48 hours.
I usually tell them to mail the check and I will send the inspection agreement once received. What they don’t know is the mailing address I give them is the Denver FBI office and the “ATTN” name is the head of the fraud department.
You should only worry if they want to send you a certified check over the inspection cost to pay the pest guy. It’s a scam. Make them send the check next day. That way they are loosing money. But do not deposit it or do the inspection.
“I would like to know if you are available to inspect my house 30 of May around Lady Lake Fl”
Three things jump out.
" I would like to know" as mentioned above.
30th of May. While I can understand it, US citizen says “May 30th”.
Around Lady Lake Fl.
While I can understand having the FL in there, most people wouldn’t use that. They’d just say “Lady Lake”. Someone in India trying to check scam me probably includes the state.
Called it “My House” Your house? You bought it? Why do you need an inspection?
Also, of note, he was asking for the inspection 8 days in the future. That’s now how it works. You put the offer in, you find an inspector who can get out there as soon as possible, not 8 days in the future.
Yep, broken English via text, scheduling weeks out and wanting to mail a check for well above the amount are all flags. Even knowing it’s a scam I’ll often reach out to the listing agent to be sure they aren’t actually selling to a guy from Nigeria who only has a single check left in his book… and as a courtesy to let them know their listing is being used as bait for a scam.
