A couple is dealing with a surge of house hunters showing up at their door after catching sight of their $1.6 million house listed for a mere $10,200.
Kansas Couple Found Million-Dollar Home Listed for Sale
Instead, a deceitful scheme on property site Zillow caused them significant inconvenience for nearly a week as they worked to resolve the issue while dealing with numerous visitors at their doorstep.
However, Jamey and Lauren Bertram decided not to list their spacious five-bedroom, 5,300-square-foot home in Kansas City that they purchased for approximately $1 million in 2019.
The listing provided contact information for "Mandi" and included a phone number with a Las Vegas area code.
After making a phone call, the newspaper reporters were instructed to make a payment of $200 using an online banking app. They would then be visited at their home for a walk-through.
The scammer justified the unbelievably low price by portraying the owner as incredibly wealthy, suggesting that they were generously donating the item to charity, DailyMail reported.
The house was exclusively open to individuals who were purchasing their first home. The notice explicitly stated that realtors, lenders, investors, wholesalers, or lawyers were not welcome to inquire about the property.
Zillow Scams: Criminals Exploit Home Seekers with Unrealistic Listings
It is not surprising to find scams appearing on real estate sites like Zillow, as criminals have been targeting individuals searching for a home for some time.
Fraudulent real estate listings are commonly crafted using images and descriptions from legitimate advertisements, often promoting homes at unrealistically low prices.
After contacting the scammers, unsuspecting individuals are requested to provide their personal information or make a payment, typically through a wire transfer.
According to CBS News, Zillow offers comprehensive guides on its platform on identifying and preventing scams, as well as valuable insights for navigating the property market.
The fraudulent advertisement for Bertram's residence employed common tactics that raised concerns for cautious buyers or renters.
"Many scams typically involve a request to wire funds. It is important to exercise caution when transferring funds to individuals you have not met in person," Zillow warned about scammers who come up with believable excuses for conducting remote transactions.
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