Technology, Is It A Good Thing or a Bad Thing?

Gena - well you have to "admire" her inventiveness and audacity to enage in such despicable behavior. It's a shame that our difficult makret has spawned so many scammers. I agree - you hav to be carefull and not rely only on technology but check on credentials, etc. when the situation warrants. Any professional will undrerstand and apprecite the throroughness I would think.

Jeff

Tha is terrible - I am amazed at the things people do.

Jeff, it's sad and definitely is just one small example of how checking and rechecking is necessary. Even when it comes to buyers, I think it's essential to have more verbal and eye contact. Too much email and texting takes the human side out and allows some deception in. But, that's just my opinion.

Cooper, I am always amazed at what goes on and how individuals spend time dreaming up ways to take advantage of anyone. They obviously don't believe in Karma and don't appear to have much of a conscience. In these times of high gas prices, job loss and home loss, I think we may see a lot more desperate people doing desperate things. It's sad.

Gena, it's amazing that somebody would take that kind of risk.  I think technology has its place, and yet I also believe in high touch service.

I am amazed at how much information a person will give you just because you say you are an agent or how much money they hand over.

That is one of the oldest real estate scams in the book. We have a rash of them here in Detroit every so often,

Gena this is just unbelievable. The scams just keep getting better and better. Glad they caught on to these crooks before anymore damage was done.

Cooper, it is shocking the amount of fraud that goes on and the lengths that people take.  Fraud in a different context also occurs with clients who exclusively use text and email when contacting agents about purchasing a house with all cash. This is when good follow-up, face-to-face contact is so important in order to sift out those that are a waste of time and those that are serious buyers.

Christine, all of the tools that are available help add to our services but there is nothing like the personal touch that solidifies client contact.

Gene, with the availability to print business cards and take on false identity it is prudent for both the consumer and the agents to do their due diligence prior to any transaction. It's out there and ever so present...we all need to be on our toes.

Terry, ah yes, and as time marches on I'm sure there will be more added. We need to all be cognizant of how and what to avoid. Sharing about our experiences might serve to help others who are in the way of fraud.

Bill, as the economy both at the grocery store, gas stations and businesses closing and downsizing continue we will find desperate people doing desperate things. It's important to be aware and share these scams to help protect our clients, future clients as well as our peers.

There's nothing that takes the place of doing ones homework and personal contact. Technology has it's place and helps but the true test at the end of the day is that one-on-one.

This crime is the reason my company visits every vacant property at least twice per week during the rental process.  Landlords beware!

Gena,

Technology's role should be to stimulate and facilitate interactions between real people.  Sometimes technology can supplant a human response or function however studies show people are more likely to react to your message on an interpersonal basis.

You are absolutely correct that we need more personal interaction with our clients, but this will not necessarily stop this type of fraud.  Here in Las Vegas, a real estate and her husband, a loan broker, met personally with hundreds of unsuspecting homeowners who were facing foreclosure.  They netted about 17 million in profit by convincing these people to sign their properties over to them; the homeowners were told that their homes were being sold to an "investor" who would let them remain in the home as a tenant.  There was no actual buyer, but the property did change ownership and this pair of professionals put millions in their own pockets.  They are facing charges of mail fraud, wire fraud, loan fraud, etc. etc.  Their personal touch allowed them to take advantage of these people and reap huge illegal profits.  So, in addition to replacing technology with personal attention, our industry also needs to be its own "watch dog" and report suspicious activities within our industry to proper authorities.  In this type of market, especially, we have to preserve the integrity and reputations of all of us who have worked to be successful in our business.

Hi Gena, This is really amazing. I guess we have come upon a time now when this looks like it could become yet another avenue that we all need to learn more about , how it happens and how best to prevent it in our careers. Totally amazing stuff.

Robert, just another reason why I would refer you to any of my clients needing a property manager in Sacramento.

Matt, let's hope that the user uses technology as a stimulas to contact the recipient for a personal contact. Need to step off the keyboard and make those personal connections.

Teri, you are absolutely right we MUST preserve the integrity and reputation of our ourselves and our business. You story is yet another example of greed and fraud. As the FBI continues to undress the actions of some of these perpetrators, I hope that as a profession will be left with honest, law abiding professionals who have the moral character, fortitude toward what is right and decency so that the public can gain the trust that has been lost.

William, desperate people do desperate things. When acting dishonestly and for your own self defined justification many times people are hurt in the process. We need to be aware and with our skills as bloggers help others who may not be aware to take notice and realize that Internet users need to get to know the person that they are working with and establish a relationship.

Congratulations on the featured post.  Yes fraud is still alive and well.  It's a shame that as almost an unstoppable force of nature that the weak will be prayed upon.

I think the ones committing fraud are still out there.  Ones that I suspect are still free and doing well.  I'd like to see them all have to pay. 

Thank you Fred, there was a very long dry spell with so many other featured posts. Glad I finally made it on the dashboard.

Ah yes, it is sad...the weak are definitely prey to scams and fraud but also unsuspecting and pretty intelligent individuals are threatened, as well. Quite a few Internet users who solely rely on the Internet and miss just one small detail can be victimized. Not like it was when I was growing up and it was easy to trust. Now, it requires such due diligence when dealing with money issues.

Thanks Fred for popping on over and giving your 2 cents. I appreciate it.

Barbara, I quite agree. I'd like each and everyone of them caught. Not sure that we have enough prisons for them all. I'm inclined to paint a BIG red letter F for fraud on the forehead that won't come off and allow them to roam free...how about you?

I've heard this scam has been alive and well for several  years.  You make a good point!

Its amazing to me that people will spend more time scamming and defrauding than holding down a real job. I like the big letter F idea.

I find it amazing the things that people do...but then again, I shouldn't be surprised with today's society.  Who do you trust?

Cheron Lange

Criminals are always finding the loopholes the rest of us choose not to do.  It's a sign of the times, the economy will do things to some of us that most of us wouldn't think of doing...

                          ;>)

The term "con artist" didn't originate with the internet.  It is just a different way to interact.  The flip side is that it is easier to use the same technology to check out the people you are doing business with. 

Diane, I guess what's old is new again. Everything in this day and age is at a fast paced whirl...with so many scams and fraud it seems prudent to slow things down a bit especially when dealing with money. I know I value keeping mine and I would assume most others feel the same. So, it only makes sense to take the time to REALLY know who you are doing business with.

Marie, sounds like we are on the same wave length. It would certainly save us all money for prisons and warn others of their presence. I think it's a winning idea.

Michael, it's a hard world we live in now, one with a lot of skepticism and rightful so. Our profession has quite a hurdle to overcome with all the scams and fraud abounding. I think we have to be ever so much more diligent in making sure that we are a cut above the rest and giving good sound advice. Making sure that our business model always includes that personal touch and keeping our clients informed so they are not left to be victimized.

Ann-Marie, I know what you are saying but I just can't imagine that a person's character could change that much. I'm pretty sure that no matter how down and out I could ever get, I wouldn't resort to criminal activity. But, I guess there are those that might and do.

Todays technology is great. E-mail is a great way of communicating with clients.  There are a few bad apples out there for sure...

Lane, absolutely. The Internet is great for finding information but at the same time, there is nothing to stop a scarn artist having information on the Internet, too.  There needs to be more than just assuming that if someone is on the Internet they are legit. Plus there are those who steal legitimate people's identities everyday.  

So, at the end of the day...that personal touch, that meeting at someone's office confirming they are who they say they are, are all so very important.

I know that won't stop all of the scams and fraud but at least a Realtor's identity would be a little harder to assume.

The Internet is good for some things. I think it makes for a more level playing field for the public and I love email. However, people think a real relationship is chatting on the Internet. Some people cannot spell anymore because all they do is text. And fraud can be committed on a larger scale. Over all, I approve of technology, but I wonder how all this is going to affect the evolution of our species.

It is not the technology,,,,, we could not function without it, I am not ready to go back to the pony express...

Roland, oh believe me I love the Internet and technology, I just hope that we don't as a society and as a profession forget the personal side of eye to eye contact. A balance would be good.

Wayne, my crystal ball broke awhile back but my guess is that the new generation that has been unnamed so far (I call them Z  generation) will be less communicative since according to surveys spend much of their time in front of a computer, TV, cell phones and texting. The days of playing outside with your buddies and learning to get along with one another learning social skills is being lost.

I do hope that we see a reverse trend and grab onto more of the social aspects of society while there are still those of us left that know what it is like.

I have faith in mankind...everything usually old returns again...so I'm hoping for the return of eye-to-eye contact...there's nothing like it. All things in moderation.

Jack, don't worry I'm not suggesting that we go back to that...although I never lived in that era. I love technology, too but there is a happy medium and there are aspects that are being left out so all I am suggesting is that since we have gone way over to the right...how about being towards the middle.

That might help with the obesity problem that we have in society, it might help people learn how to communicate, learn to spell again and cut down a tad on some of the fraud.

Do you agree that nothing in life is good when its in excess? What are your thoughts now that you know I an not advocating getting rid of all technology?

it's even more than this -- want to know how many owners are renting out their home while they move elsewhere  --- collecting rent -- while they don't  pay their mortgage for 6 - 9 months.  Oh yes it's happening eveywhere

You Definitely have to be on your guard when renting.  You have to make sure the house is not in foreclosure too.

If she wasn't a Realtor, but used the name as a Realtor, how did she get in the house to rent it. I guess I'll go read the article it is probably in the link you provided. I wrote on a scam last week about a licensed Realtor giving out the codes to a person who robbed all the owners blind.

WE can never be too blind.

Fraud is everywhere, we just need to use our radar and walk away when our gut tells us to.  I said "no" to a deal a month or two ago, and when the agent asked me why, I said it was because of the "F" word... It stunk so bad that I wanted to take a shower.  No single deal is worth risking your reputation or worse, having to wear an orange jumpsuit for a few years.  The FBI doesnt mess around there are a few people that are "away" for a few years for what they thought were innocent things.... I was just about to write a post on the latest fraudulet trend....

Technology should be employed to support your efforts.  Technology and services that allow you to maximize your core competencies should be the priority (the time they save you can be directly tied back to your business).  Consumers are not interested in customer service anymore - they demand Customer satisfaction - and that means communication, responsiveness, and most importantly effectiveness.  And from your perspective, tools need to provide a solid return on the investment.

Susan, back to character and since of pride...now it's anything goes as long as I can get away with it.

Russ, yes you are right. The houses I referred to were REO's and definitely NOT rentable.

Missy, she broke in and had the locks keyed.

Robert, ah yes there is nothing worth wearing an orange suit for. And fraud is alive, well and spreading like wildfire. The big word is a resounded, NO! You are a man of character, ethics and pride.

Scott, everything you said is absolutely true and I would add that as time marches on, my hope is that customer service will once again rate right on up to the top. There is an entire generation who really doesn't know what good customer service is and don't know what they are missing but maybe someday they will want someday as old fashioned as customer service along with technology.

We baby boomers remember what it is and appreciate it.

Thanks for you for taking the time to comment on this subject in the Active Rain network.  AR is the new "cyber backbone" of the industry, and with it's uplink to Localism.com it is transforming the real estate marketplace. Agents who don't see which way the cyberwind is blowing are going to find themselves at a considerable disadvantage inside of three to five years.

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