A member recently notified staff at the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® of a potential scam involving WhatsApp. Prospects reach out through a lead generation form online, via chats, or by text message. The prospect then insists on using only WhatsApp to communicate. This suspicious behavior may mean that the person is not who they say they are.
A reminder to never provide personal information to anyone you don’t know over WhatsApp – or any app. Also ensure you are practicing consistent lead on-boarding processes. Talk to your broker about your office’s verification process and requirements.
For more information on scams, please visit this page on the Member Portal.
NOTE: This message is based on reports from GLVR members and is provided solely for informational purposes. GLVR does not make any warranty, implied or otherwise, as to the validity or accuracy. Please understand the association cannot file a police report on someone’s behalf, cannot run background checks on individuals, nor can we share information about any individual with others, per the advice of legal counsel. We do encourage members to report any suspicious or criminal behavior to local authorities immediately, and to use these alerts as a reminder to assess your personal safety habits and practices.