Text message scammers trying to scam contractors

[Jraef]

There are numerous systems that insist on you providing your bank account info, the only way around it is to pay cash or write checks and send them in the mail, but of which have their own risks too. So what I learned from an ex boss (who ironically was a bit of a scammer too) is to set up two bank checking accounts. One is the number I put out there, and that account always has a zero balance. When I use whatever is tied to it, I know the exact transaction amount, so I call the bank and transfer that exact amount into it immediately. I do NOT turn on over draft protection on that account either. So for example I have that bank account attached to my PayPal account and my Amazon account, both of which are also tied to a single credit card account that I don't use for anything else, and is set for auto-pay against that separate bank account. So basically if anyone gets hold of either system, they get nothing.

I learned this years ago but didn't implement it until last year when my credit card number was stolen twice in 6 months. Massa Card cut them off both times with no losses to me, other than my having to change credit card numbers on all the things I bill directly (like utility bills and my gym membership), which takes valuable time.

 

[steve66]

Very similar to the "Rent this beautiful home while we're away in Africa doing mission work." They don't need much money, but they hate to have their house empty, so if you would just send them a small amount of rent they'll send you the key and you can live there until they come home.

We had a neighbor that put their house up for sale. It was listed and advertised on a professional realtor's website.

Someone basically copied the photos and listing and used it to create a Craig's list ad. It was a similar scam - rent this house for $500 a month - unbelievably cheap. Just wire us a deposit and we'll mail the key.

My neighbors reported the add, and Craig's List took the add down. But I think that happened 2 or 3 times before they actually sold their house.

 

[Jraef]

We had a neighbor that put their house up for sale. It was listed and advertised on a professional realtor's website.

Someone basically copied the photos and listing and used it to create a Craig's list ad. It was a similar scam - rent this house for $500 a month - unbelievably cheap. Just wire us a deposit and we'll mail the key.

My neighbors reported the add, and Craig's List took the add down. But I think that happened 2 or 3 times before they actually sold their house.

Yeah, that scam is rampant here in the Bay Area. Rents are ridiculously high, so the scammers offer unbelievable low rents on a "first come first served with a cashiers check", often scamming dozens of respondents at a time for thousands of dollars. They will do it for regular rentals too, especially if the original rental ad included a photo and address. There was one scammer caught a while ago who had a realtor lock box key and was actually showing the house.

 

[kwired]

Yeah, that scam is rampant here in the Bay Area. Rents are ridiculously high, so the scammers offer unbelievable low rents on a "first come first served with a cashiers check", often scamming dozens of respondents at a time for thousands of dollars. They will do it for regular rentals too, especially if the original rental ad included a photo and address. There was one scammer caught a while ago who had a realtor lock box key and was actually showing the house.

There is that many people that would send the deposit without even looking at it in person?

 

[Jraef]

There is that many people that would send the deposit without even looking at it in person?

Around here? Yes. Lots of foreign nationals here on H1B visas working in Silicon Valley; big paychecks, desperate for housing because their families came with them and the company housing plan expires in 3 months (typically) and vulnerable to scams because they are unaware of how things are supposed to work here.

When houses go up for sale here, buyers are desperate so the sellers are getting multiple offers over the asking price, often by hundreds of thousands, and frequently with cash offers. It's freaking nuts right now.

 

[Fulthrotl]

When houses go up for sale here, buyers are desperate so the sellers are getting multiple offers over the asking price, often by hundreds of thousands, and frequently with cash offers. It's freaking nuts right now.

i remember the last time the bubble was around san jose...
friend of mine was trying to buy a condo there....
they'd sell in fifteen or 20 minutes, sight unseen. cash sales.

his dad had a house in milpitas, looked down on the country
club there, on 5 acres.

sold sight unseen for over $4m, iirc, in a few hours. he sold right
near the top of the market, and retired.

 

[steve66]

There is that many people that would send the deposit without even looking at it in person?

They advertise unbelievably low prices or rents, which should clue people in, but people think they are going to miss out on a bargain, so common sense goes out the window.

And the scammers always use the same old stories: I'm out of the country, or I'm in the hospital, .....Just send me a deposit and I'll send the key.

It only takes a few people to fall for it to make it worthwhile to the scammers.