Beware of Telephone Scams!

March 20th, 2023 at 1:50 pm

Agents Beware! Always be on the lookout for scams! Some of our agents have recently been contacted by phone by someone purporting to be Chief Deputy Danny Burkowski of the U.S. District Court. The scammer claims that he has a subpoena requiring our agent to appear in court. He further claims that the subpoena is signed by our agent (or perhaps someone forged our agent’s signature). The scammer may also say that, because our agent has missed the court date, a warrant has been issued for our agent’s arrest. The scammer may also claim that our agent can resolve the issue by immediately posting bail, e.g., through the agent’s Zelle account. 

Scammers will generally try to trick you by sharing certain information that sounds credible. In this subpoena scam, the scammer may claim that the court case at issue concerns a sales transaction with a property address and parties that you recognize because you were, in fact, previously involved as the real estate agent for that transaction. Yet, that type of information is readily available online and through public records. The scammer may also try to trick you by giving other credible-sounding information, such as the name of the presiding judge, court case number, and the phone numbers for the district court and Chief Deputy.

Also be mindful that scams often involve a sense of urgency. In this subpoena scam, the scammer may be aggressive and may pressure you for immediate payment.

Also keep in mind that scams can morph quickly as time goes on. The names of the Chief Deputy and judge, as well as other details of this particular subpoena scam may change up over time.

Copyright© 2023 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties (BHHSCP). All rights reserved. Any unauthorized reproduction or use of this material is strictly prohibited. This information is believed to be accurate as of March 20, 2023. It is not intended as a substitute for legal advice in individual situations, and is not intended to nor does it create a standard of care for real estate professionals. Written by Stella Ling, Esq.

 

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