T
he Better Business Bureau is warning about a new scam targeting homeowners in Green Country. Scammers are sending text messages offering to buy homes, often including the recipient's personal information. According to Amie Mitchell, CEO of the BBB of Eastern Oklahoma, any unsolicited offer to purchase a home is likely spam.
Spammers send these messages to everyone, regardless of whether they own a home or not. Once you hit reply, they're hoping you'll take the bait and provide more information. They may have obtained your name from public records, retail lists, or even computer programs that dial random numbers.
Be cautious if the scammer offers to rescue you from foreclosure or provides an unusually low refinance rate. Never give out personal or financial info in response to a text message, especially if it's unsolicited. Instead, contact your lender or bank directly using a trusted phone number or website.
Common themes in real estate spam texts include:
* Unsolicited offers to buy
* Requests for personal information
* "Rescue" from foreclosure scams
* Wire transfer requests
* Long or spoofed phone numbers
* Shortened or scrambled links
If you receive a suspicious text, don't respond. Block the number and report it to the Federal Trade Commission and the FBI's Internet Crime Complaint Center. You can also contact the company directly using a trusted phone number or website.
