By: James R. Lindamood According to the Connecticut Better Business Bureau, real estate scammers are getting smarter all the time. The tricks they use are some of the oldest in the book, but that's only a testament to their success. If the techniques didn't work, no one would use them. They range from acts that are designed to convince a homeowner to sell their own property for a fraction of the market value to “seminars” that offer real estate advice on how to sell property. Regardless of the scam, the goal is the same. These con-artists pick on overwrought homeowners who are often in danger of foreclosure, and are looking for an easy way out. One surefire way of determining if something is a scam is to stop and think about how they found you. Did they give a valid referral, such as a friend or coworker, or did you receive their info via a mass e-mail or a solicitation call? Most real estate scammers find their marks via unsolicited e-mails, telephone calls, or free “seminar” vouchers mailed directly to the consumer's home. The seminars typically offer “foreclosure assistance” or “secrets to great real estate investing”. Regardless of the topic, it's always something that could be found on the internet with a simple search. After all, that's where the person giving the “seminar” got their information. They didn't develop it, they plagiarized it from someone else. No matter how legitimate you think an offer might be, always check it out. There are many sources out there. You can use the Better Business Bureau, or even the Department of Commerce. They both maintain files on businesses that are thought to be corrupt. Most importantly, do your research. A simple search on the internet can typically tell you all you want to know about a company, legit or not.
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