15 things we always have to explain to visitors and newbies (Read Me First) (Denver: insurance, living in)

[2bindenver]

From the Colorado Real Estate Commission:

Cybercriminals targeting home buyers and sellers nationwide

The Colorado Division of Real Estate at the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) warns Colorado consumers to beware of a national cyber-scam currently taking place that steals money directly from home buyers and sellers.

The Division continues to receive information about this cyber scam in which cybercriminals hack the email accounts of real estate brokers, title companies, and consumers who are in the process of buying or selling a home. In other instances, they create alternative email accounts with just minor changes to the name of the email account, which typically goes unnoticed by the recipient of the email.

“Unfortunately the costs to Colorado consumers can be in the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars with just one successful scam,” stated Marcia Waters, Director of the Division of Real Estate. “Unless you pay very close attention, everything may look right -- the email signature, address, and the website. But, by the time homebuyers realize something is wrong, the money is already gone and in an untraceable bank account, leaving them at the closing table with no money and eliminating their ability to purchase the home.”

This past February, a Colorado seller lost over $80,000 from the sale of their property to one of these scams.

How do the scams work? Often the computer hackers monitor email exchanges between the parties of a real estate transaction and gain specific information, such as the buyer and seller names, subject property address and file numbers. As the closing date approaches and arrangements are made to wire the money to the closing company, or wire the proceeds from the sale of the house to the sellers, the scammer will send a last-minute email from a hijacked account or similar looking email address updating the wiring instructions to request the money be transferred into a fraudulent bank account. The email looks legitimate and often contains the transaction specific information the hackers obtained in the body of the email or as an attachment.

[atltechdude]

Originally Posted by 2bindenver

From the Colorado Real Estate Commission:

Cybercriminals targeting home buyers and sellers nationwide

The Colorado Division of Real Estate at the Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA) warns Colorado consumers to beware of a national cyber-scam currently taking place that steals money directly from home buyers and sellers.

The Division continues to receive information about this cyber scam in which cybercriminals hack the email accounts of real estate brokers, title companies, and consumers who are in the process of buying or selling a home. In other instances, they create alternative email accounts with just minor changes to the name of the email account, which typically goes unnoticed by the recipient of the email.

“Unfortunately the costs to Colorado consumers can be in the tens to hundreds of thousands of dollars with just one successful scam,” stated Marcia Waters, Director of the Division of Real Estate. “Unless you pay very close attention, everything may look right -- the email signature, address, and the website. But, by the time homebuyers realize something is wrong, the money is already gone and in an untraceable bank account, leaving them at the closing table with no money and eliminating their ability to purchase the home.”

This past February, a Colorado seller lost over $80,000 from the sale of their property to one of these scams.

How do the scams work? Often the computer hackers monitor email exchanges between the parties of a real estate transaction and gain specific information, such as the buyer and seller names, subject property address and file numbers. As the closing date approaches and arrangements are made to wire the money to the closing company, or wire the proceeds from the sale of the house to the sellers, the scammer will send a last-minute email from a hijacked account or similar looking email address updating the wiring instructions to request the money be transferred into a fraudulent bank account. The email looks legitimate and often contains the transaction specific information the hackers obtained in the body of the email or as an attachment.

As a technology professional, email is an insecure and dead protocol.

Real estate transactions really should stop using it altogether and move to more secure technologies. Even text is more secure.

Ideally a brokerage should have a secure area of their website at least where messages and documents can be exchanged.

[2bindenver]

Originally Posted by atltechdude

As a technology professional, email is an insecure and dead protocol.

Real estate transactions really should stop using it altogether and move to more secure technologies. Even text is more secure.

Ideally a brokerage should have a secure area of their website at least where messages and documents can be exchanged.

Real estate is an email heavy process. You need to review and sign contracts & disclosures. Review inspection reports. Upload financial docs to the lender via a secure portal.

No one will agree to sign a 17-page purchase contract via text message.

And I repeat myself, do not ever accept wire instructions via email. Always confirm by calling the title company to verify.

[COcheesehead]

I just went through a real estate transaction. We had a portal for documents and encrypted emails for just about everything else.

[Mike from back east]

Consider reading this blog by one of our regular posters and also the comments for some info on Colorado.

[daprara]

dont confuse the transport with content
transport:
if your party never gets the doucment you still failed. So text or email all good.
content:
heavly encrypt the doucments you send.

[stoptheridegonnahurl]

#14..I’d always thought I’d experienced thunderstorms being from out East..but when I happened to be visiting my Aunt in Denver inMay of 2017, I experienced the worst storm I’ve ever encountered in my life..Returning to Denver from Arvada as the hail storm was beginning..seeing a pitch black sky for the first time ever..the weather radar was hot pink..being trapped inside a car while being assaulted by murderous ice balls..yes, the thunderstorms are a thing..

[Summerz88]

Originally Posted by stoptheridegonnahurl

#14..I’d always thought I’d experienced thunderstorms being from out East..but when I happened to be visiting my Aunt in Denver inMay of 2017, I experienced the worst storm I’ve ever encountered in my life..Returning to Denver from Arvada as the hail storm was beginning..seeing a pitch black sky for the first time ever..the weather radar was hot pink..being trapped inside a car while being assaulted by murderous ice balls..yes, the thunderstorms are a thing..

I grew up in Colorado, TERRIBLE THUNDERSTORMS!
Especially on the eastern plains..
Been scared of them all my life.
I’m Now on the east coast but my feelings for them have not changed….

And the wind ….is the **only thing I **don’t miss about Colorado.

[TimAZ]

Originally Posted by Summerz88

I grew up in Colorado, TERRIBLE THUNDERSTORMS!
Especially on the eastern plains..
Been scared of them all my life.
I’m Now on the east coast but my feelings for them have not changed….

And the wind ….is the **only thing I **don’t miss about Colorado.

Ever been to Wyoming?

[Gerania]

Originally Posted by stoptheridegonnahurl

#14..I’d always thought I’d experienced thunderstorms being from out East..but when I happened to be visiting my Aunt in Denver inMay of 2017, I experienced the worst storm I’ve ever encountered in my life..Returning to Denver from Arvada as the hail storm was beginning..seeing a pitch black sky for the first time ever..the weather radar was hot pink..being trapped inside a car while being assaulted by murderous ice balls..yes, the thunderstorms are a thing..

I've seen a few severe thunderstorms in the East, but I've rarely seen hail. I just doesn't happen here often.


"And wind gusts in parts of the region have gotten close to or above hurricane strength (74 mph).

Trescott, Maine, reported a wind gust of 93 mph, just shy of winds in a Category 2 hurricane.

The Blue Hill Observatory in Milton, Massachusetts, reported a top wind gust of 90 mph on Monday morning. That’s just shy of the highest December wind gust on record, which was 95 mph on Dec. 29, 1966. ..."

https://www.foxweather.com/weather-n...east-southeast