Real estate scams target sellers through real estate listings and data brokers

Selling your home can be exciting. It can also be stressful, especially as you move into your retirement years. The last thing you need are opportunistic criminals hanging around while you’re making a big life change.

The danger is real. A recent home seller may have cash on hand or a well-funded bank account. That can make retailers prime targets for fraud, theft and identity scams.

However, there is good news. You have options. A few smart steps can help protect you, your family and your hard-earned nest egg. First, let’s take a closer look at what is being revealed.

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WHY BODY ATTACK COMES TO THE SAME PEOPLE

That is the sale of goods that can be disclosed

The moment a contract or transfer of property is drafted, important information can become part of the public record, depending on your country and region. That may include your name, mailing address, the history of the area and, in many places, the sale price.

That gives fraudsters a head start. Based on reviews of public records alone, they can pinpoint where you may have the most to lose and where you are being disrupted by a move. They may know that you recently sold a property, that you receive messages from real estate agents, title companies, escrow officers, inspectors and contractors and that your contact information may have changed.

But title and property records are only part of the problem. Local sales can yield many benefits, including:

• Floor plans show the layout of the home
• Interior photos that may reveal security systems, access and valuables
• External view from list or map services
• Pictures showing artwork, electronics, collectibles or other expensive items
• Personal data that sellers have already collected before the sale

How fraudsters get their hands on this information

Data brokers gathering real estate information and selling it to real estate investors, marketing companies and leading manufacturing services. For someone between the ages of 55 and 70 who is downsizing from the family home to a smaller place, that fill-in creates a new confirmed data point.

That new data can automatically update the entire merchant profile, including your new address. Once that happens, the information can spread to all search engines, marketing websites and dealer networks. In some cases, it can reach buyers who sell selected buyer profiles to unsuspecting buyers.

In other words, fraudsters don’t have to compile all the records manually. Data brokers and people search sites you can scrape, match and pack them.

Watch for real estate fraud

Fraudsters may also act as your real estate agent, title company or escrow officer near closing. They may send fake wire instructions or claim that payment information has changed at the last minute.

Before sending or receiving any transfer, call the title company or foreclosure specialist using the phone number you obtained independently. Don’t trust the number inside an unexpected email or text. Also, suspect any last minute change in wiring instructions.

LOOKING FOR A SUMMER TRIP? HERE’S WHAT YOU GIVE TO THE HEROES

Real estate agents may be targeted after foreclosure as scams use real estate records, online listings and search engines to track down personal information. (Daniel Acker/Bloomberg via Getty Images)

There are two main ways to reduce risk. You can limit what goes into the public record, and you can prevent the spread of your information once it appears online. You can also do both at the same time.

To limit what is displayed:

• Hide your location on Google Maps and Apple Maps. You can also follow our step by step guide blur your home on Google Maps and Apple Maps.
• Contact your local government, usually at the county level, to ask if local records can be updated
• Register for freehold or title recording notices with your county recorder or clerk’s office, if applicable.
• Remove images of properties that reveal personal information or weaken your physical security
• After buying a property, ask the real estate agent to remove the photos and floor plans from their website

To limit what is streamed online:

• Search for your name on popular search engines and be aware of the people search sites that pop up
• Submit removal requests to sites that claim to sell your personal information
• Prioritize sellers that specialize in property records, such as PropertyChecker.com or FloridaParcels.com
• Research the data vendors that operate in your area and submit removal requests even if their websites do not allow public searches

Or, you can replace most of that work by subscribing to a data removal service.

HOME CITY LICENSE PLATE CAMERAS AND FEAR LOWE’S SECRET OF SPARK

Fraudsters can use real estate data, listing photos and seller profiles to create convincing schemes that target recent home sellers.

Why I recommend a data removal service

Removing personal information from distribution may take considerable time. There are hundreds of data brokers. Each may have its own opt-out process, and many may re-enter your information within months of a successful removal.

This is why I recommend using a data removal service. It can automatically contact data brokers, request the deletion of your information and continue to resend deletion requests if your data is listed again. This service includes 420+ data brokers, including people search sites, with an Unlimited plan for as many sites as you need.

Check out my top picks for data removal services and get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out there on the web by visiting Cyberguy.com

Run a free exposure scan

You can also use a free exposure scanner to see where your personal information appears online. Results usually arrive via email within an hour.

Get a free scan to find out if your personal information is already out there on the web: Cyberguy.com

Kurt’s priority is taking

Selling a home should feel fun, not risky. However, once the sale of your property has been recorded, information such as your name, mailing address, property history and, in many jurisdictions, the sale price may become part of the public record. That information can spread quickly. Search sites and data brokers can also pack it with past addresses, phone numbers, relatives and email addresses. That makes it easy for scammers to create a convincing profile for you. The good news is that you can reduce your exposure. Request that your home be blacked out from mapping services, remove photos from dangerous listings, sign up for county recording alerts and request removal from data broker sites. The data removal service may also send you opt-out requests and continue to check if your information comes back online. With a little planning, you can protect your privacy and make yourself a much harder target.

After selling a home or moving, have you found your personal information online? Tell us what happened and how you handled it. Let us know by writing to us at Cyberguy.com

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