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Where Do Crimes Against Agents Take Place? Open Houses, Home Showings Are Two Significant 'Danger Zones'
Meeting with strangers in private locations can be an inherently risky activity, and it's something that real estate agents do every day in order to provide their clients with services. But exactly how dangerous is it, or can it be? A recent WAV Group study examined agent safety topics, asking real estate agents if they have ever been the victim of a crime at work, what type of crime they experienced, who perpetrated the crime, and where it happened. The research indicated that open houses and home showings are two locations where agents tend to experience risky situations. 'Have You Been the Victim of a Crime at Work?' Most respondents (62.5% overall) said that they have not been the victim of any crime at work. However, significantly more women than men have been the subject of some type of criminal behavior at work: 24.8% of men reported being the victim of a crime, compared to 44.6% of women. After determining which respondents had been the victim of a crime at work, the survey asked agents who had experienced a criminal scenario at work to share where it took place. Risky Open Houses, Phone Calls, Home Showings More than half of agents who had experienced a crime at work (55.8%) said that the crime took place in one of three locations: At an open house: 20.9% On the phone: 19.8% At a home showing: 15.1% There were some interesting differences between how male agents and female agents who had been the victim of a crime at work responded to this question. Open houses seem to be more dangerous for female agents than for male agents. Of the agents who had experienced a crime at work, 22.5% of women said the crime took place at an open house, compared to 13.3% of men. And female agents are significantly more likely than male agents to experience a crime such as phone harassment. More than one in five female agents who had experienced a crime said it took place on the phone (22.5%), compared to 6.7% of men. This is almost certainly because female real estate agents are inherently attractive targets for perpetrators of phone harassment; their images and their contact information are widely available in the communities where they work. By contrast, significantly more male agents than female agents who had experienced a crime at work reported that the crime took place at a home showing. More than one in four male agents who had experienced a crime (26.7%) said the crime took place at a home showing, compared to 12.7% of female agents who had experienced a crime. Men were also almost five times more likely to say that the crime took place at a private meeting than women, 13.3% to 2.8%. Tips for Staying Safe at Work While brokerages can (and should) implement protocols to help keep agents safe, there is a lot that agents can do themselves to decrease risk and increase their own personal safety. Check in with friends and family. If you're meeting frequently with people you don't know well, establish a check-in system so that the people in your life know where you are supposed to be and when — and can raise an alarm if you're not. Use the buddy system. Bring a friend when hosting an open house, and consider partnering up with others when meeting prospects in private locations. Pre-verify identity of prospects. Before meeting with someone you don't know well, verify their identity, status as a homeowner, and their ability to buy or sell a home right now. Sign up for an answering service. Using an ISA or a third-party service to help you manage your phone calls (and screen them) can potentially eliminate some of the phone-based crimes that agents experience every day. Stay tuned for the full results of the research report, and stay safe out

Fraud Alert! Legit Email or a Scam? 4 Ways to Tell the Difference
Thank you to Tech Helpline for sponsoring this article on RE Technology: Email scams are on the rise. The numbers are scary: Forbes shares that 500 million phishing attacks (tricking people into providing personal details over the internet) occurred last year, double of last year's. In 2022, nearly one-third of a million victims lost over $52 million in the US alone. Business Email Compromise (BEC) – a deceptive scheme targeting individuals and businesses that are transferring money – in real estate is also spiking. According to FBI data, nefarious real estate-related scams increased 27% in the last two years. More worrisome, the total losses suffered by victims soared – up 72%. And you can read some of those sad stories here, here, and here. Business-related phishing emails are becoming more sophisticated. Seemingly from reputable sources, they can trick almost anyone. Real estate professionals are at increased risk because they live in a world of high-value transactions and have become more digitally empowered. The stakes for real estate agents and brokers are high: it's not just your reputation on the line, but potentially tens of thousands of dollars – and your client's trust. Let's delve deeper into four critical strategies for identifying deceptive emails, ensuring that you and your clients know what to do to avoid falling into costly traps: 1. Closely examine the sender's email address Spotting impostors: Often, scammers create email addresses that mimic legitimate ones. For instance, instead of [email protected], you might receive an email from [email protected]. Such minor variations can be easy to miss, especially during a busy day of property showings and client meetings. Make it a practice to closely study the domain of any unexpected email, especially those related to a financial request. Trusted senders: Maintain a list of known email addresses for clients, title companies, and other agencies you regularly deal with. Cross-referencing your list can often quickly sort genuine communications from fraudulent ones. 2. Be wary of emails requiring immediate action The pressure tactic: A favorite tool in the scammer's arsenal is creating a sense of urgency. By pressuring you to act quickly, they aim to prompt hasty decisions, hoping you'll overlook red flags. They know you are busy and deadline-driven and will try to leverage that with a message that requests a quick response – directing you to click on a link. Legitimate organizations understand transactional processes and are less likely to rush you unduly. Verification is vital: Upon receiving an urgent request, especially one involving financial, account information, or other personal data issues, take a breath. Don't reply to the email. Instead, call the requesting party directly using previously known numbers, not the contact details in the suspect email. Verifying could mean the difference between a secure transaction and a hefty loss. 3. Scrutinize links and attachments Decipher deceptive URLs: Before clicking on any link in an email, hover your mouse over it. This action should display the link's destination. If it doesn't lead to the official website or looks suspicious, don't click on it to avoid the risk. Malware menace: Unsolicited attachments, especially from unknown senders, can be Trojan horses for malware. This malicious software can give hackers access to your computer, compromising client data and other sensitive information. Always ensure your antivirus software is up-to-date, and if your settings don't already do it, run any dubious files through an antivirus tool before opening. 4. Look for spelling and grammatical errors Branding blunders: Look closely at the email's artwork. Scammers often use logos, branding colors, or company slogans that are slightly off. Compare the email's aesthetics to official correspondence or the organization's website. The language of scams: While everyone can make an occasional typo, scam emails often exhibit poor grammar, strange phrasing, and glaring spelling mistakes. Such errors can be due to translation software or the scammer's unfamiliarity with the English language, particularly the unique terminology, acronyms, and phrases commonly used in real estate. An email about an urgent financial matter riddled with such mistakes? It's likely a candidate for your email trash. Bonus: Educate your clients about wire transfer fraud Because of their substantial sums, real estate transactions are a prime target for wire transfer fraud. Earnest money and down payment transfers can attract nefarious actors, so everyone should exercise extra caution. Here are a few ways to be preemptive: Proactive client communication: During initial meetings, educate your clients about the potential risks of wire transfer fraud. Ensure they know that last-minute changes to banking details are uncommon and should immediately raise alarm bells. Change Passwords: Before starting the transaction, ask your clients to change their email password to one that is strong and unique. Explain that this is in case their credentials were breached and sold on the dark web in the past without their knowledge. Two-step verification: Encourage your clients always to confirm wire transfer details, especially if received via email. A quick phone call using a known number may prevent a significant financial loss. Banking safeguards: Suggest clients liaise with their banks to set up transaction alerts for substantial amounts. Instant notifications of large withdrawals or transfers can be the first line of defense against unauthorized transactions. Use a highly secure software tool like TrustFunds: Many MLSs across the country offer a service like TrustFunds to secure earnest money transfers and save agents from driving around collecting and delivering escrow deposit checks. Enterprise-grade encryption protects agents and their clients. Be prepared The modern real estate agent wears many hats: negotiator, confidant, market expert, and now, digital guardian. Each email you open, link you click, or attachment you download may carry a profit potential but also the risk of deception. While digital tools enrich today's real estate landscape, they also demand that real estate professionals remain diligent to avoid being scammed by bad actors. The nuanced threats hiding in deceptive email addresses, the false urgency created by scam emails, the dangerous lures of malicious links, and the often-overlooked errors in scam emails have made it imperative for agents and brokers to remain vigilant consistently. The integrity of the real estate industry is built upon clients' trust. To maintain this trust, agents must help navigate these digital pitfalls. Remember, knowledge is your superpower, and with these high stakes, it's not just about securing the next sale but safeguarding yourself and your clients. Finally, if you are one of the 750,000 Realtors in North America with free access to Tech Helpline as a member benefit from your MLS or association, reach out for professional assistance whenever you have a question about a digital risk. Other related posts: Is Your Computer Protected from All The Newest Cyber Threats? A Quick Checklist Top 5 Ways for Real Estate Agents to Protect Their Data and Personal Privacy Don't fall for it: 4 new online + offline scams and how to protect yourself Tricia Stamper is Director of Technology at Florida Realtors®, which owns both Tech Helpline and Form

The Power of Data Privacy in Real Estate Transactions: Safeguarding Client Information
In today's fast-paced digital world, data privacy has become a crucial aspect of our lives, especially when it comes to sensitive matters like real estate transactions. As real estate professionals, we hold a vast amount of confidential information about our clients, making data privacy a top priority. In this post, we'll explore the significance of safeguarding client information, the potential risks of data breaches, and how we can maintain a balance between fun and professionalism while ensuring data privacy remains our utmost concern. Why Data Privacy Matters Data privacy is not just a buzzword; it's the foundation of trust in any real estate transaction. Consider this: our clients put their trust in us to protect their financial information, personal information, and future aspirations. We create enduring relationships based on reliability and trust by protecting their data. Clients are being more cautious about disclosing their information as data breaches increase. By taking data privacy seriously, we demonstrate to clients that we are dedicated to safeguarding their interests, fostering relationships that last long after the sale. The Real Risks of Data Breaches A real estate nightmare can result from a data breach. Imagine a situation where a hacker obtains access to client data and abuses it to commit identity theft or financial gain. Such a situation might have disastrous effects on both the clients and us as real estate experts. In addition to the financial costs, data breaches can significantly harm our reputation. When there is a breach, word spreads like wildfire, making potential customers doubt our reliability. The consequences could be disastrous, resulting in missed business opportunities and a serious setback in our career. Fun and Professionalism: The Perfect Blend While data privacy is serious business, that doesn't mean we can't infuse a touch of fun and creativity into our client interactions. Being professional doesn't have to equate to being rigid and impersonal. Here are some ways we can strike the perfect balance: Engaging Social Media Content: Let's use social media to entertain our clients while educating them about data privacy. The topic may become more relatable with the help of interesting posts, tests, and educational videos. Data Privacy Seminars: Create engaging and educational data privacy seminars for your clients. Include interactive activities, games, and stories from real life to keep the audience interested while delivering important information. Data Protection Infographics: Visual aids are very beneficial. Create eye-catching infographics that highlight the proper data protection practices. To spread awareness among customers, these can be shared on a variety of platforms. Privacy Pledge: Create a privacy commitment that demonstrates our dedication to protecting client data. To demonstrate our commitment to their privacy and to forge a personal connection, ask clients to sign it. The Tools of the Trade To protect client data effectively, we need to arm ourselves with the right tools and practices: Secure Communication: Use encrypted channels for all communication, including file sharing and email. By doing this, confidential information is protected from prying eyes. Strong Passwords: In order to add an additional layer of security, stress the necessity of using strong, one-time passwords for all accounts along with two-factor authentication. Regular Audits: Conduct routine data privacy audits to spot vulnerabilities and take preventative measures to fix them. Data Minimization: Only gather and save the information that is required for the transaction. To lessen the risk of a possible breach, throw away any information that is useless. To conclude, in the ever-evolving landscape of real estate transactions, data privacy remains of utmost importance. By prioritizing the security of client information, we build a solid foundation of trust, ensuring clients' dreams are protected with utmost care. Infusing fun and creativity into our professional approach fosters meaningful connections and enhances our reputation as trusted real estate professionals. Let's embrace the power of data privacy and embark on a journey that ensures our clients' data is in safe hands, now and in the future. To view the original article, visit the Transactly