🛑 AGENTS BEWARE: The "High-End Buyer" Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing

A dear friend of mine recently confided in me, sharing a story that was painful to hear. He was scammed for quite a bit of money. I am sharing this in the hopes that you will share it with a friend or colleague and save them from the absolute agony of this kind of loss. 

It was a crypto currency con, but here is the terrifying part for us in this industry: It walked right through the front door.

The scammer posed as a high-end buyer. They played the part perfectly. They likely even produced fake Proof of Funds (POF) indicating they were wealthy. To any agent, this looks like an innocuous, exciting lead. You think you are helping a wealthy client find a luxury home. 

But it was a setup. 

Because we often operate without strict guardrails or safeguards when vetting new leads, the perpetrator was able to build a relationship. Once that trust was established, the conversation pivoted from real estate to investing. 

The con artist showed the victim—my friend—fake trading accounts. They showed "live" results where they were making crazy returns. The pitch is seductive: "Look, I put in $20,000 and it’s already $60,000."

You put in a little money. They show you a fake dashboard where it doubles. You get confident. You put in more. Before you know it, the con artist has $100,000 of your hard-earned money. 

And then? They are gone. 

We are in the business of trust, but we must be vigilant. If a "buyer" starts pivoting the conversation to how much money they can help you make in crypto or trading, put your guard up immediately. 

Please share this. If it saves one agent from financial ruin, it’s worth it. 

#RealEstateScams #RealtorSafety #AgentsBeware #RealEstate #TheFierceGuardian #CryptoScam