SCAMMERS SEEK TO STEAL FROM REAL ESTATE CUSTOMERS

___

Published Date 1/27/2017

The Arkansas Attorney General’s offices and the Federal Trade Commission report a new scam where hackers steal a Realtor’s email looking for upcoming transactions. The scammer then send the hopeful homeowner “new” wiring instructions to send the down payment. Instead of the funds going to the title company, it goes straight into the scammers account.

“Realtors pledge to protect and promote the interests of their clients,” Attorney General Leslie Rutledge said. “And criminals are always on the lookout for ways to take advantage of and exploit trusting relationships. Avoiding this scam requires everyone to be diligent and use extreme caution when wiring money to avoid these sly scammers.”

Attorney General Leslie Rutledge issued the following tips for protection against this scam:

• When it comes to financial transactions, be cautious doing business by email. Customers should call and have an actual conversation with the realtor, title company or bank they are dealing with. Emails can be hacked.
• Never open attachments in emails if you are not absolutely sure of the source and were not expecting the email. The attachment may contain malware that can operate undetected on your computer, leaving you vulnerable to cyberattacks.
• Utilize respected malware and virus protection programs and keep them up to date.
• Utilize complex computer and email passwords and change them frequently to avoid computer hacking.
• Email is not a secure way to send financial information.

If you ever have questions please give me a call anytime.

Source: PineBluff