Have you heard about different cyber-attacks happened and still happening? Real estate industry is one of the most targeted by the hackers. Planning to buy a house using the internet? Although modern technology makes our life easier by doing real estate transactions, we should learn to be careful. Of course, you can’t just do that. Wire fraud, phishing and hacking are only few of the real estate cyber-attacks to steal your information online.
Here are our top four tips on how you can avoid real estate cyber scams.
- Stop sending information via email.
If you really need to send a sensitive information using email, make sure that you use an encrypted email. Don’t send your social security number and banking information because it can be used against you to steal something from you.
- Stop clicking on the unverified email.
Once you have received an email from someone and you don’t recognize the email address used, do not click it or open it. You can also receive some downloadable attachments from these unfamiliar address which contains viruses that can make your computer hacked.
- Do not connect to unsecured Wi-Fi.
Free Wi-Fi from your hotel, local coffee shops, and the airport can be used to check your banking information or do some banking transactions but, think twice. It is a public Wi-Fi and anyone can connect to it including hackers and scammers.
- If you suspect scams, tell someone.
If you’re in doubt about the process of a certain real estate property that you intend to purchase, contact all the people involved in this transaction.
Source: http://www.kansascity.com/