Comments on: The Setup, The Pitch and the (Agent’s) Stolen Identity http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/ News, insights, tools, and inspiration for business owners and professionals Fri, 10 Feb 2012 15:13:36 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: The “Nigerian Investor Scheme” | FAARForum.com http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-37142 The “Nigerian Investor Scheme” | FAARForum.com Tue, 11 Aug 2009 23:06:24 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-37142 [...] in January I wrote an article for www.AgentGenius.com, called The Setup, The Pitch and the (Agent’s) Stolen Identity.  This outlined a new threat to agents who have active listing, wherein people took your [...] [...] in January I wrote an article for www.AgentGenius.com, called The Setup, The Pitch and the (Agent’s) Stolen Identity.  This outlined a new threat to agents who have active listing, wherein people took your [...]

]]> By: The “Nigerian Investor Scheme”, the FBI and You http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-37080 The “Nigerian Investor Scheme”, the FBI and You Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:24:57 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-37080 [...] in January I wrote an article for www.AgentGenius.com, called The Setup, The Pitch and the (Agent’s) Stolen Identity.  This outlined a new threat to agents who have active listing, wherein people took your [...] [...] in January I wrote an article for www.AgentGenius.com, called The Setup, The Pitch and the (Agent’s) Stolen Identity.  This outlined a new threat to agents who have active listing, wherein people took your [...]

]]> By: linsey http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26501 linsey Wed, 07 Jan 2009 06:12:56 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26501 I admit - this scam leaves my jaw dropped. I appreciate you bringing this to our attention; I'll be forwarding it to my Mastermind group and my agents. The unfortunate side effect of a market like this is the large number of scams. Even on a smaller scale - I see renters paying rent on a home in foreclosure, I see owners taking a deposit on an 18 month lease only to immediately go into foreclosure, and more of the same. Thanks for bringing this to our attention Matthew! I admit – this scam leaves my jaw dropped. I appreciate you bringing this to our attention; I’ll be forwarding it to my Mastermind group and my agents.

The unfortunate side effect of a market like this is the large number of scams. Even on a smaller scale – I see renters paying rent on a home in foreclosure, I see owners taking a deposit on an 18 month lease only to immediately go into foreclosure, and more of the same.

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Matthew!

]]> By: John Wake http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26437 John Wake Mon, 05 Jan 2009 06:07:17 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26437 Adding a Google alert for my name is a great idea! Done. Adding a Google alert for my name is a great idea! Done.

]]> By: Paula Henry http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26432 Paula Henry Mon, 05 Jan 2009 02:52:25 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26432 I set up a regular listing and get spam. It is wise to be careful - I guess the con artist are non stop creating new ideas to ensure they neve have to work. I set up a regular listing and get spam. It is wise to be careful – I guess the con artist are non stop creating new ideas to ensure they neve have to work.

]]> By: Benjamin Bach http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26396 Benjamin Bach Sat, 03 Jan 2009 15:48:32 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26396 Thanks Matthew Every time I've posted a For Rent ad on craigslist, I get at least 1 phishy inquiry... Usually offering to pay a years rent up front, via cashiers cheque. The scam is to try to get you to cash the cheque and send money back before the cashiers cheque clears, leaving you on the hook for a few grand. Remember... if it seems to good to be true... Thanks Matthew
Every time I’ve posted a For Rent ad on craigslist, I get at least 1 phishy inquiry… Usually offering to pay a years rent up front, via cashiers cheque. The scam is to try to get you to cash the cheque and send money back before the cashiers cheque clears, leaving you on the hook for a few grand.

Remember… if it seems to good to be true…

]]> By: Ira Serkes http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26377 Ira Serkes Sat, 03 Jan 2009 06:25:25 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26377 Love google alerts! I set up a series for "serkes" "ira serkes" "carol serkes" amongst others. And thus, a few days ago, I was alerted that the local newspaper had blogged about one of my listings (was once a grande dame) at 1951 Thousand Oaks, Berkeley. They used my name, Serkes, so the alert popped up. So I set up several more google alerts "# StreetName" "1951 Thousand" The quotes make it an exact match. A narrow search. and also # Berkeley 1951 Berkeley A very broad search. Anything with 1951 and Berkeley (though not necessarily together) show up So I get things that happened in Berkeley in 1951 (the equivalent of a false positive) but also actual matches. Just do it... you'll be glad you did. Love google alerts!

I set up a series for “serkes” “ira serkes” “carol serkes” amongst others.

And thus, a few days ago, I was alerted that the local newspaper had blogged about one of my listings (was once a grande dame) at 1951 Thousand Oaks, Berkeley. They used my name, Serkes, so the alert popped up.

So I set up several more google alerts

“# StreetName”
“1951 Thousand”

The quotes make it an exact match. A narrow search.

and also

# Berkeley

1951 Berkeley

A very broad search.

Anything with 1951 and Berkeley (though not necessarily together) show up

So I get things that happened in Berkeley in 1951 (the equivalent of a false positive) but also actual matches.

Just do it… you’ll be glad you did.

]]> By: Elaine Reese http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26352 Elaine Reese Fri, 02 Jan 2009 18:41:01 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26352 Thanks, Matthew. Regarding Craigslist, I know several agents in this market have somehow set up a feed of Craigslist listings to be sent to their web sites. They use a specific domain for the name of each suburb. Then the site has the complete list (including postlets) posted as a duplicate to Craigslist. I didn't think about the benefit it would have for other sites. BTW, a listing stays active for, I think, around 40-some days. Most people update it more often than that. Thanks, Matthew. Regarding Craigslist, I know several agents in this market have somehow set up a feed of Craigslist listings to be sent to their web sites. They use a specific domain for the name of each suburb. Then the site has the complete list (including postlets) posted as a duplicate to Craigslist.

I didn’t think about the benefit it would have for other sites.

BTW, a listing stays active for, I think, around 40-some days. Most people update it more often than that.

]]> By: Matthew Rathbun http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26347 Matthew Rathbun Fri, 02 Jan 2009 17:20:30 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26347 Elaine, I am not sure that Craigslist if indexed for a variety of reasons, the least of which is that Craigslist entries only linger for seven days (as I recall). However there are a variety of other webpages that collect listing data from IDX feeds and could be a problem. I haven't managed a brokerage in two years, but there are sites that list listing me that way. We've also seen sites that collect listing information inaccurately. An agent here locally found her listing as a foreclosure, which is wasn't. However, she used the phrase "Not a Foreclosure" and the aggregator picked up only on the word foreclosure... It's extra work, I know - but it's important to know what's going on with your listings. Elaine,

I am not sure that Craigslist if indexed for a variety of reasons, the least of which is that Craigslist entries only linger for seven days (as I recall).

However there are a variety of other webpages that collect listing data from IDX feeds and could be a problem. I haven’t managed a brokerage in two years, but there are sites that list listing me that way.

We’ve also seen sites that collect listing information inaccurately. An agent here locally found her listing as a foreclosure, which is wasn’t. However, she used the phrase “Not a Foreclosure” and the aggregator picked up only on the word foreclosure…

It’s extra work, I know – but it’s important to know what’s going on with your listings.

]]> By: Elaine Reese http://agbeat.com/editorials/real-estate/the-setup-the-pitch-and-the-agents-stolen-indentity/#comment-26335 Elaine Reese Fri, 02 Jan 2009 14:50:50 +0000 http://agentgenius.com/?p=8820#comment-26335 Does Google crawl Craigslist? For instance if we set up the address on Alerts, will Google find it on Craigslist. Does Google crawl Craigslist? For instance if we set up the address on Alerts, will Google find it on Craigslist.

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