topic Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties? in Community Chat

Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

On It — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:04:38 GMT

A new scam by text seems to be occurring. Last week my husband received a text from a California number wanting to buy or lease our New Mexico property. I googled the number, and it supposedly belonged to a spam caller site. Today he received a text from a Texas area code wanting to purchase our Texas home. He deleted both without opening. In my opinion a legitimate interested party would at least provide a name or even call.

Have any of you gotten these concerning real estate?

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

Kachina624 — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:17:15 GMT

I wish I'd get someone interested in buying the resort lot I own in Texas. I'd practically give it away as I'll probably never see it again.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

jlkz — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:18:24 GMT

@On It

Back at home we get postcards, xeroxed info sheets and telephone calls weekly about an apartment building we have as well as our home.

It seems the callers have all taken a real estate seminar on buying properties. You can tell by how they answer questions or even ask basic ones that they are new to the game.

I simply state: If there is no For Sale sign, then it is not for sale. Then I hang up.

If DH gets the call, he cuts them short by asking exactly how much are you offering ? Answer quickly or I hang up. He hangs up.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

PinkyPetunia — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:23:21 GMT

Yes I have received texts and phone calls about selling my properties. In all cases they were erroneous. They asked about locations I did not own.

I just delete these voice-mail and texts. If I want to sell I will find a real estate agent myself.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

patbz — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:25:10 GMT

We live in a mountain resort community favored by those whose primary home is in Phoenix. We get SO many of these inquiries that its practically a daily joke. In addition, every build able lot has at least a foundation, and these are itty bitty homes (1200ft) with no useable space for outdoor areas.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

patbz — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:26:14 GMT

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

depglass — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:32:19 GMT

We are getting a ton of phone calls in a foreign accent asking if we are selling. Don't know how this ever started as we are on the Do Not Call list.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

Kachina624 — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 17:39:38 GMT

@depglass News Flash! The Do Not Call List is a useless joke totally disregarded by all telephone so!icitors. If you believe it helps eliminate calls, you're very naive.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

fthunt — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:03:00 GMT

If you advertise your rental properties on Craig's List - beware - lots of SHARKS swimming around in that world.

They've been known to get title to private dwellings - don't ask me how they do it - but more than one homeowner has lost rights to their homes.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

On It — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:15:13 GMT

@fthunt wrote:
If you advertise your rental properties on Craig's List - beware - lots of SHARKS swimming around in that world.

They've been known to get title to private dwellings - don't ask me how they do it - but more than one homeowner has lost rights to their homes.

That is horrifying! A situation like this occurred on Law & Order, so I told my husband I was afraid they were up to no good. The frightening thing is they had both addresses correct and my husband's phone number. I wonder if this information being out there is the result of some of the recent hacks or some sort of data mining effort.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

novamc1 — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 18:21:03 GMT

@jlkz

As a former residential sales agent and broker, I'd suggest your husband not ask how much they're offering, but say that if they mail him a written, signed offer, he will consider it.

That will either shut them up quickly and search for another sucker, or they might actually do it and then you will know how serious they are.

Inviting scammers to submit verbal phone offers could potentially make them think of another way to devise a property scam. No agreements to buy or sell that are made verbally are court-enforceable.

Both where I lived before and where I live now, we have received numerous phone and mail contacts from people wanting to buy our house or sell it for us. I ignored them all.

My husband owned some Texas properties that he bought many years before we married. He received numerous mail and phone solicitations from prospective buyers over the years.

I finally forced him to get rid of the properties and couldn't have cared less about random phone or mail inquiries. I hired brokers in two different Texas counties, was willing to pay for their local expertise and service, and they successfully sold the properties quickly--no headaches, no scams.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

sgraham30 — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 19:15:38 GMT

@On It, I've gotten several stating that interested parties want to buy my townhouse for cash. I have to click on it to see what it is, once I see what it is, I text back STOP, block the number, then delete the text.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

Sweetbay magnolia — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 19:21:39 GMT

I do get the occasional text and flier about interest in the property. It comes from a legitimate business concern but I'm not selling, so I just ignore them.

We have a nicer than average lot in what has become a desired location. Modest home, nice sized lot and (rare) no HOA. Mature trees. I think we'll be able to sell when the time comes and for sure we'd work with a broker.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

Boehm Collector — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:14:54 GMT

Just yesterday my DH received a text message ( I didn't pay attention to the number as we just deleted it) asking if I was interested in selling the house where my office is located. I still use my maiden name so I have no idea how this person knew to get in touch with DH and how he got his cell phone number. The message clearly mentioned my name and the address of the property.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

Carmie — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 21:37:41 GMT

Anyone can go to the county courthouse and look to see who owns property. They can tell if it is paid for or there is a lien on it. This is Public information and many scammers just help themselves.

Often phone numbers and a home address of the owner is listed as well.

I used to spend the day doing this myself when I worked as a real estate agent looking for listings in neighborhoods where houses sell pretty fast.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

On It — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 22:15:37 GMT

I just received a text wanting to buy our Texas house. It does seem to be some sort of organized effort. I had never received one until a few minutes ago.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

Duckncover — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 22:17:45 GMT

I get these texts all the time. My provided is starting to block them as potential spam but some still get through.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

sunshine45 — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 22:31:24 GMT

its not new at all and has been around for quite a while now.

i get those texts weekly, block the number, and they turn around and use another number, which i also block. its a cycle.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

sunshine45 — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 22:35:33 GMT

@Carmie wrote:
Anyone can go to the county courthouse and look to see who owns property. They can tell if it is paid for or there is a lien on it. This is Public information and many scammers just help themselves.

Often phone numbers and a home address of the owner is listed as well.

I used to spend the day doing this myself when I worked as a real estate agent looking for listings in neighborhoods where houses sell pretty fast.

@Carmie

in our area you dont even have to go to the courthouse. owners names, property, and property taxes are a matter of public record. you can look it up online easily.

Re: Text Scam concerning Real Estate Properties?

PickyPicky3 — Tue, 25 Jan 2022 22:40:58 GMT

I get texts, phone calls and mail about this all the time. There are also many, many TV commercials. Not necessarily a scam -- just marketing.