Scams are increasingly present in real estate, and MAAR receives multiple messages per month from members reporting suspicious activity and attempts to defraud agents. This week, we heard from a member who received an inquiry from a prospective client through a well-trusted real estate tool. The person was a bad actor, lying about their identity to wrongfully act on property they did not own.
Due diligence takes time, but it is essential to protect yourself and your business. As a reminder, MAAR always advocates for members to:
- Use MAAR member benefits like FOREWARN to verify prospect identities and cross-reference information.
- Ask informed questions – don't move forward with someone who's not forthcoming with their intentions.
- Avoid clicking a link in an email from someone you don't know.
- Ask a trusted colleague to review the situation or reach out to MAAR for help when a situation seems too good to be true.