A sophisticated scam by fraudsters hacking into realtor accounts:
http://www.turnto10.com/story/30190372/real-estate-scam-costs-ri-couple-13k
There’s a consumer alert about an apparent scam targeting families in Rhode Island after a local couple lost $13,000.
Experts say this scheme is very sophisticated, and anyone who’s in the market for a new home needs to be on alert.
It’s a simple idea: pose as a real estate agent online and target home buyers. But in reality, it is anything but simple.
“The goal is to hack into the real estate agent’s email account,” said Connor Dowd, a broker with Keller Williams Realty of Newport. “Once they’re in, they try to learn about any real estate transactions that are currently going.”
http://www.turnto10.com/story/30190372/real-estate-scam-costs-ri-couple-13k
Not just real estate, all kinds of businesses are being hit by fake wire transfer emails:
http://krebsonsecurity.com/2015/08/fbi-1-2b-lost-to-business-email-scams/
Email is a terribly insecure medium, very easy to fake and create any kind of message you want. Every message should be treated as guilty until proven innocent.
Thanks Ross!