{"id":9556,"date":"2016-09-22T16:00:01","date_gmt":"2016-09-22T23:00:01","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rmlscentral.com\/?p=9556"},"modified":"2016-09-22T14:56:17","modified_gmt":"2016-09-22T21:56:17","slug":"realtor-safety-month-electronic-safety","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rmlscentral.com\/v1\/2016\/09\/22\/realtor-safety-month-electronic-safety\/","title":{"rendered":"REALTOR\u00ae Safety Month: Electronic Safety"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"image_pdf\"<\/a>\"image_print\"<\/a><\/div>

\"fbi-computer\"<\/p>\n

The FBI operates a website dedicated specifically to <\/em>internet crime.<\/em> Image: FBI.gov<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n

September is REALTOR\u00ae Safety Month! This is the second of two articles covering safety issues<\/a> of particular interest to RMLS\u2122 subscribers.<\/em><\/p>\n

Remember the days when frauds and scams were easier to recognize and seemed like the type of things “other people” had to worry about? Technological advances have brought plenty of new tools, devices, and apps to improve organization and efficiency. Unfortunately the sophistication and prevalence of frauds and scams has advanced just as quickly.<\/p>\n

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AWARENESS<\/strong><\/p>\n

At any time, there are a number of common frauds and scams circulating both locally and globally. It used to be simpler to detect email scams, whether by blatantly odd email addresses or oddly conjugated messages\u2014but former red flags are getting more difficult to detect, as scammers’ methods are continuously gaining sophistication. Here are a few red flags to look for.<\/p>\n

Emails regarding wire transfers or containing wire transfer information:\u00a0<\/strong>RED FLAG<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Double and triple check your contact’s email address. Hackers will often observe email correspondence discussing wire transfers, then intercept the communication, posing as your contact. They imitate the language used in previous correspondence and include wire transfer information funneling into a fraudulent account. Often, the account is emptied and closed as soon as the wire transfer has occurred.<\/p>\n

What to look for<\/strong><\/span>
\nCheck the email address and carefully confirm its validity. For example, if you are expecting an email from angel.rmls@123.com, notice possible imposter email addresses:
\nange1.rmls@123.com
\nangel.rm1s@123.com
\nangel.rmls@l23.com
\nangel.rmls.@123.com<\/p>\n

Each of the above addresses vary from the first with a single, minor change. The replacement may replace the letter “L” with the number 1 or add an inconspicuous dot\u2014but at first glance they all look very similar to the original address.<\/p>\n

Emails requesting last-minute changes to wire transfers or monetary exchanges:\u00a0<\/strong>RED FLAG<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

What to do
\n<\/strong><\/span>Check and double check your contact’s email address. Call your contact on the phone to confirm that details and changes are legitimate. Be alert and trust your instincts if something feels off.<\/p>\n

The National Association of REALTORS\u00ae (NAR) has a great article addressing sophisticated email scams and damage control<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Attachments or suspicious links:\u00a0<\/strong>RED FLAG<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

There are a significant measure of viruses spread via email attachments and links. When opened, the virus wreaks havoc on devices and confidential information. In some cases, the attachments can be sent from a familiar email address that has been hacked.<\/p>\n

What to do
\n<\/strong><\/span>Stay alert and look out for oddities. Were you expecting the attachment or link? Confirm with your contact that they sent an attachment or link intentionally\u2014sometimes this is how people discover they’ve been hacked in the first place.<\/p>\n

DocuSign recently experienced fraudulent activity which the Oregon Association of REALTORS\u00ae addresses here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Another challenge to the local market is the Craigslist scam where photos of listed homes on the market are scraped and posted on Craigslist as being up for rent. Craigslist has quite a bit of information detailing what to do in these situations<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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PREPAREDNESS<\/strong><\/p>\n

Your electronic safety can be greatly enhanced by an established data security plan, including best electronic practices, damage control, and reporting tools. Below are a few best practices for cyber safety:<\/p>\n