Congratulations, you deserve it. Just imagine the frustration of seeing your money going through the phishing email. Your dream house requires strict financial protection.
The phishing scams normally go after those customers that purchase their property for the first time. Their email is full of wrong details related to the wiring instructions. There is no way you will be able to buy the condo once the amount leaves your account.
First of all, call your agent prior to making any transaction through the internet. You should always use a telephone number saved in your contacts. The thing is that one step alone will save you from most of the real estate scams. Do not ignore any changes in the instructions.
The banks issuing you the mortgage are usually well-known organizations. The scammers can easily impersonate them to steal your down payment. They can ask you to “verify your identity” while you complete your loan application.
Never open any links that ask you to do that. Instead, open a new tab and go to the website of the bank in order to complete the process. Opening any strange attachments may install a keylogger that will catch your banking password. In this case, it is always better to be paranoid than broke.
Many documents will be transmitted between you and your real estate agent. The scammers will try to hack these emails in order to get your financial data and Social Security number. Having your identity, they can create portfolios and open credit cards.
Check if your agent has some secure websites for file sharing. Use these platforms instead of uploading your PDF files through your normal Gmail account. Your identity becomes the key to your new home.
Securing your bank accounts from possible hackers becomes one tedious job. You should have Two-Factor Authentication at every financial platform as a must. Change your passwords to something impossible to remember instead of your pet’s name.
The hackers will make a series of minor transactions to understand whether you will notice them or not. For instance, they will try to subscribe you to a paid newsletter or make a small donation. Auditing your statements is a necessary procedure at this moment.
It is hard enough to budget in the competitive market. Additionally, you can face being scammed. The problem is that banks spend a lot of time on returning your wire transfers. In most cases, the money stays lost.
Sadly, nowadays you cannot become safe automatically. You need to be careful with unexpected phone calls or texts related to the buying process. Follow your intuition, because if the deal looks suspiciously profitable, it means something. This low price of a fixer-upper property is just the bait.
You may consider purchasing a property in less competitive markets like San Antonio later on. However, first of all, we need to protect your money. Be cautious and careful.
Welcome to the greatest purchase of your life.