Just checking to see if anyone else out there has experienced this…and if anyone knows why people do this.
I’m in the Fort Worth area of north Texas.
Basically, I get a text message from a random number asking if I can do a home inspection in the area on a specific date (date is normally 2-3 weeks out). The text is always a little vague and with a prompting question; I get the address for the home they are requesting to have inspected.
The first time the address for a new home that was still under construction, but after talking to the builder, they (the builder) said that the home would not be finished for another month and that nobody had purchased the home yet.
Second time was a house that just hit the market, but after speaking to the listing agent; the home was not under contract and no offers had come in yet.
No more texts after pointing these facts out to the people trying to schedule the inspections.
For the exact same reason these two jokers replied the way they did…
It’s nothing new. These jerkwads have been doing that for years.
They get their jollies off by F*cking with you!!
(Time to move out of their parents basement)!!
Search “scam” using the forum search. You will probably find the person’s name, although they use a few different ones and may have some new ones. But you’ll probably recognize the same text wording (except the address).
OP, the previous posters are somewhat poking fun at you since this topic has gone around many, many, many, many times and there are entire threads dedicated to it. Since it sounds like you don’t know, the scam goes like this: “Buyer” (scammer) texts to setup an appointment and has some reason they can’t be at the inspection. They want to send you a check for more than the amount of the inspection and have you pay another party - usually a termite inspector, pool inspector or some other person. This “other person” is also them. They want you to send them a real check after getting their fake check. Your check to them clears, theirs to you (obviously) doesn’t and you’re out the money.
In general, be VERY weary of text only clients that can’t be at the inspection. Researching the subject property and making a call to the listing agent often clears things up. Also, you’ll learn to spot the texts. EVERY one I’ve ever received starts with a really odd introduction… “Hi, I’m Davidson…”
Ya, I got the same feeling, haha.
I’ve never reached the point where they talk about the check…but that definitely makes sense.
I appreciate the honest explanation. Thank you.
We just do not have this problem. We do not accept text only inspection orders. The phone number on our website and everywhere else is a non-text SMS number. It is a real office number that we have through VoIP. We made the decision to only except orders via our website, over the phone or via email from already established real estate agents or past clients.
Yes, I have have experienced this myself. This happens 4 to 5 times out of the year. They will book 2 to be week out requesting an inspection. They will ask for a price, and say we have a pest Control company and a mold company will meet you in this day. I respond by asking who is the realtor you’re working with to gain access to the property. Long story short, if the agreement has not been signed after 3 days , I delete them or ask for a 100 deposit to secure the inspection
I’ll just add that blocking the number may not do anything for you. It might even cause you to miss a potential client.
If the number being used is a local “spoofed” number, the scammers are only likely to use it once, or at least only use it for a short time period. And a potential client may have than number in the future. Not a huge chance of it, but a chance nonetheless.
Many many many many many many many many times… The last one I got, I gave them the Denver FBI field office for the address to send the check to, and said to label it ATTN: Mark Michalek. He’s the director of that office.
They are getting better… My most recent one text-messaged in reasonably-constructed English sentences and gave me the address of a house that I was familiar with that was recently for sale and now pending. So, although I was highly suspicious, I entered “him” into my system to reserve the date (two weeks out) and see if he (they) would sign the electronic contract (he did) while I waited for his likely-fraudulent “check” for more than my fee (to also cover the pest inspection) to arrive in the mail. I waited about a week for the check to arrive, just because I wanted to take it to the bank to forward to their fraud department. I eventually called the listing agent who confirmed that my “guy” was not their buyer. So, I cancelled the inspection and have not heard anything back. However, still hoping to receive the fraudulent check and holding all my electronic records as it sure would be nice to turn them over to someone in law enforcement that will help nail these guys.
Ryan, Unfortunately I have dealt with this probably a dozen times over the years. We did catch one spammer and it turned out to be a Home Inspection company. The other times after contacting agents to verify who it was and they provided the info that there was no offer and it was decided that it was a scammer I blocked the calls, no problem after that ever with that number, of course they will use another number but their style does not change, so when I get a text like that I block it. And like others we really shouldnt be communicating through text, if so, someone is hiding something. If someone will not commnicate by phone for actual contact (besides Realtor making arrangements) I pass it up. Nope no problem in loosing business, because there wasnt any business.
This has happened to me several times one times. One time I did get a check. I took it to the bank to have it verified and they told me it was fraudulent. I just got another one this past week. Trying to get me to do an inspection and pay the floor installer that was working there that same day. I contacted the realtor and she said they’ve had four fraudulent calls on that property already. I blocked the phone number and canceled the appointment in my system.