Grab your favorite drink and hop on Zoom as we dive into the growing world of AI and how it’s making it's way in real estate.
From content creation to daily workflows, we’ll share our favorite AI tools, time saving tips, and real-life ways our staff is using it behind the scenes.
We also want to hear from you too! Come ready to share your own AI wins, tricks, and tools with fellow members and affiliates.
See you on Zoom!
A recent alert from the National Association of REALTORS® (NAR) highlights a scam targeting real estate pros, leading to significant financial losses for some.
According to NAR’s “Window to the Law” video (View Here), this scam involves fraudsters posing as trustworthy contacts to build rapport over time. They then pitch cryptocurrency investments, often with promises of high returns or urgent opportunities. The U.S. Secret Service has flagged this as a growing issue in the real estate industry, where busy professionals can be prime targets due to their access to funds and client networks. They may reach out via email, text, or social media, urging you to invest in a crypto platform or send funds to a digital wallet. Once you transfer money, it’s gone—and so are the scammers.
Here are some red flags to keep on your radar:
Unsolicited Offers: Be wary of unexpected messages about crypto investments, especially from unfamiliar contacts or those claiming to know you.
Pressure to Act Fast: Scammers often push for quick decisions, saying you’ll miss out on a “once-in-a-lifetime” deal.
Suspicious Links or Platforms: Avoid clicking links or downloading apps from unverified sources, as they may install malware or lead to fake investment sites.
Too-Good-to-Be-True Returns: Promises of guaranteed high returns with little risk are a classic scam tactic.
Here are practical steps to safeguard your business and finances:
Verify Contacts: Always double-check the identity of anyone pitching an investment. Call them using a known number or meet in person if possible.
Secure Your Communications: Use encrypted email or secure platforms for sensitive transactions. Never share financial details over unsecured channels.
Research Before Investing: If you’re considering crypto, work with reputable, regulated platforms and consult a financial advisor.
Report Suspicious Activity: If you suspect a scam, report it immediately to the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center (www.ic3.gov) or your local law enforcement.
Real estate professionals are particularly vulnerable because scammers know you handle large transactions and may have access to client funds. Falling for a scam could not only cost you money but also damage your reputation and client trust. By staying informed, you’re taking a proactive step to protect your livelihood.
Scams evolve quickly, so make it a habit to stay updated on the latest threats. Review your cybersecurity practices regularly, and consider reaching out to our team for additional resources or training on fraud prevention. Have you encountered a suspicious message or offer? Share your experience with us so we can keep your WVMLS community informed.
Willamette Valley MLS is thrilled to talk about a PROACTIVE SAFETY AND LEAD INTELLIGENCE service for all WVMLS members. There is no additional charge to members and is included in member dues!
FOREWARN brings intelligence to the real estate industry through innovative solutions to help ensure safer engagements and smarter interactions.
The FOREWARN application gives an agent the ability to gain instant insight on a prospective client (within seconds, without exposing any protected class information) using only a phone number! Don’t have a phone number… you can also search by name.
Instantly verify:
Identity (first name, last name, alias, and age)
Phone numbers (residential and mobile history)
Address history (rental, ownership, and associated addresses)
Financial indicators (bankruptcy, lien, judgement, and foreclosure history)
Property records (nationwide property ownership history)
Criminal records (nationwide criminal history search)
Verifying your prospects in FOREWARN is not only critical for your personal safety and efficiency, but also a benefit to your listing homeowners, providing an added layer of protection for their homes and families.
Setting Up Your FOREWARN Account
As a WVMLS member, setting up your FOREWARN account is quick and easy!
Click here and enter your email address when prompted to do so (be sure to use the same email address that this email was sent to as it will serve as your FOREWARN ‘Username’).
You will receive an activation email from FOREWARN, open it and click the link as instructed. If you do not see the email, be sure to check your junk/spam folder.
If you do not see the email after checking your junk of spam folder, this may be due to the fact that your account could not be setup as FOREWARN does not have your cell phone number. Please contact FOREWARN Support at 561.757.4551 to provide them with your cell phone number.
You will be prompted to enter an authentication code that will have just been texted, or optionally read to you via automated call, to your phone number on file. Upon completion you will be prompted to create a password.
If you are not receiving the text/call authentication code, FOREWARN may have the wrong phone number on file. Please contact FOREWARN Support at 561.757.4551 to update them with your correct cell phone number.
Now you are ready to download the FOREWARN app by clicking on the appropriate link below from your mobile device, or searching for FOREWARN in the app store:
After activating your account, you can also log into your FOREWARN account from any web browser via the FOREWARN.com homepage (click ‘Sign In’ at top-right) or via this link: https://app.forewarn.com/
Q. What if I already have a Forewarn account that I am paying for?
A. If the Forewarn account was created using the email address on file with WVMLS then Forewarn has already switched your account over to WVMLS and no further action is needed.
Searching FOREWARN in Seconds
FOREWARN provides instant & mobile identity verification and public records (criminal, property, court, etc.) for over 98% of the U.S. adult population.
With FOREWARN’s roughly 90% coverage of mobile and residential phone numbers, you should be able to search and verify most people from their phone number alone.
When you are unable find an individual in FOREWARN using a phone number, this does not necessarily mean fraud or criminal intent. FOREWARN users are encouraged to gather further details and use the additional search functionality (the “Search by name” link) within the FOREWARN app to help ensure verification of the prospect.
Name search tip: When searching by name, if there are more than 100 results to your query, FOREWARN will display “Too many records found” and prompt you to re-run your search using additional criteria.
Phone search tip #1: In the search results, FOREWARN displays all the individuals who have ever been associated/linked with the searched phone number. It is normal for multiple people to be linked to a single phone number, either as previous owners of the phone number, or relatives.
Phone search tip #2 – “Record not found”: If you search missed calls from telemarketing companies (typically they will not leave a voice message), you will get the result “Record not found” because that phone number has never been owned by, or associated with, a person.
Criminal/Infraction Records – Understanding Stronger Matches vs. Weaker Matches
‘Stronger matches only’ records have been matched to that individual based on the checked data points in the Match Key (located to the right of each record).
‘Weaker matches only’ records have been matched to MORE than one individual based on the checked data points in the Match Key. Since FOREWARN is unable to isolate one matching individual for the record, out of an abundance of caution FOREWARN opts to provide more information than less and displays the record in the ‘Weaker matches only’ category for each one of the multiple matching individuals. In these cases, it is important to note that that there is a higher probability that the record may not actually belong to the individual.
If you notice any ‘Weaker matches only’ records that you are certain do not belong to the individual, please email support@forewarn.com and note which ‘weaker’ records are incorrectly matched.
IMPORTANT – COMPLIANCE:
As a professionally licensed agent, you can use FOREWARN to verify the identity and potential risks associated with your business prospects. Please note that you must limit your FOREWARN searches to professional use only. FOREWARN is only to be used for verifying inbound prospects that have initiated the interaction, such as when a potential buyer or seller have contacted you or initiated a request for information. The FOREWARN service is not to be used for marketing (e.g. prospecting for potential leads/clients) or to determine anyone’s eligibility for credit, insurance, or employment, or for any other purpose regulated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act. Search activity is actively monitored (search terms and volume) to ensure proper use by our Subscribers as outlined in the Subscriber Agreement and the FOREWARN Terms and Conditions. Any use that is outside of the outlined proper usage that you agree to upon activating your account is prohibited and can result in your service being terminated. The specific compliance and use terms can be viewed here (https://www.forewarn.com/termsandconditions/), however below are a few examples of ways you should NOT use FOREWARN:
DO NOT use FOREWARN to search for anyone who is not engaging in business with you (including, but not limited to celebrities, public figures, friends, family).
DO NOT share information from FOREWARN, or your FOREWARN access credentials, with any third-party and DO NOT publicly post such information.
DO NOT tell a prospect that they are not permitted, or unqualified, to purchase or sell a property because of information you obtain from FOREWARN.
DO NOT use information from FOREWARN to harass or intimidate anyone, or to otherwise violate applicable laws.
The above examples are NOT meant to be all-encompassing, and you should refer to the Subscriber Agreement and the FOREWARN Terms and Conditions for additional information. FOREWARN is a powerful tool intended for the increased safety and efficiency of your business. Proper use of the service by real estate professionals ensures that we can continue to provide this valuable tool to the industry.
For additional information, you can click any of the following:
FOREWARN Customer Support
If you experience any difficulty setting up your password or logging into FOREWARN, please reach out to FOREWARN support at 561-757-4551 or support@forewarn.com (Monday – Friday; 9AM-5PM ET).