How to prevent fraudsters from stealing your property listing

[Augusta]

Scammers are out there stealing genuine agents listing to scam unsuspecting victims to get money off them you need to put spanner in their works by avoiding this from happening with your listing

The truth is that as a property agent you can't do without the online lead generation and advertising as you can get a lot of patronage with your listings but tenant fraudsters are also working hard to wreck the system

What the scammers do is to copy the listed property photos, and listing information, to advertise on another site for a lower monthly rent to lure unsuspecting renters.

The renter's will fall for the cheap price and the fraudsters will ask for money upfront when they get the money they will tell the potential tenant that keys are availablle at the property which will be a lie.So you can help stop the theft of your listing by doing the following

You can start with creating a Google Alert for your property addresses. This simply means that any web pages containing your address will prompt a notification to you. This way you can asked that the thief takes down your listing.

You can also leave a watermark on all your listing photos. it could be your name, your contact information or information on your property business. This will help drive potential tenants to contact you and not the fraudsters.

 

[Jasz]

By either contacting interested buyers or renters and requesting money upfront before showing the property, or by copying and pasting listing details and photos to create fake listings, fraudsters can steal property listings. You can stop scammers from stealing your property listing in the following ways:

Put a watermark on your pictures: By adding your company's logo or website address to your photos, you can make it harder for scammers to use them in a fake listing.

In your listing, include a disclaimer: Fraudsters may be discouraged from contacting potential buyers or renters if you include a disclaimer in your listing stating that your business does not require upfront payment.

Keep an eye on where you are online: Keep an eye on online listing sites on a regular basis to make sure that nobody is using or copying your listings for fraudulent purposes. Report a fake listing to the website right away if you find one.

Make use of safe platforms online: Make use of safe online platforms that have safeguards in place to stop fraud.

 

[Augusta]

Yeah you have stated the way to go i believe it is good to put a watermark on your pictures this will be helpful you just need to add your company's logo or website address to your photos, Yeah this make it harder for scammers to use them in a fake listing

I also like the reporting of all fake listing to the website right away if one discover any you need to shut them out

Again, it will be good to Keep an eye on online listing sites on a regular basis it will help you to detect one as early as possible

 

[Asad Ali]

There are several steps you can take to prevent fraudsters from stealing your property listing:

Use a reputable platform: Make sure you use a reputable online platform or real estate agent to list your property. Reputable platforms often have security measures in place to prevent fraud and protect their users.

Keep personal information private: Avoid including personal information in your property listing, such as your full name, home address, or phone number. Instead, use a dedicated email address or phone number for the listing.

Use watermarked photos: Watermarking your photos can help prevent fraudsters from using your images to create a fake listing.

Verify potential buyers/renters: If someone shows interest in your property, verify their identity before providing any sensitive information. Ask for their name, phone number, and email address and do some online research to ensure they are a legitimate potential buyer/renter.

Be wary of unsolicited offers: Be cautious of unsolicited offers, particularly if they are significantly higher than your asking price. Fraudsters may try to lure you with the promise of a quick sale or high rent, but in reality, they are looking to scam you.

Report suspicious activity: If you notice any suspicious activity, report it immediately to the platform or real estate agent you are using. This will help prevent the fraudster from scamming other users as well.