Scam Alert: Fake Zoom Meeting Links with Malware Used to Target REALTORS®

A phishing scam is making its way across the country targeting REALTORS®.

There have been recent reports of scammers targeting REALTOR® members with listings on Realtor.com, the MLS and Zillow, and using the information already on the listings or social media to impersonate themselves as an interested potential buyer. They insist on requesting a meeting with REALTORS® through Zoom to schedule a meeting to discuss these properties and refuse to communicate in person or through the phone. These links either open up a site that looks legitimate and nearly identical to Zoom’s and captures a member’s login credentials once they attempt to log into the site or installs malware or screen-connect software onto the device they’re using.

Members can take precaution by looking out for the signs of a scam, including:

• Poor spelling and/or grammar in their communications
• Vague details about the property or location the buyer is seeking
• Email addresses that do not match the sender’s name or the domain looks different
• Persistence and urgency by the individual to connect on Zoom or to click on the link they sent
• Refusal to meeting in-person or communicating through the phone.

Members can also help mitigate their chances of falling into a scam:

• Do not click on links sent by people you don’t know.
• Do not download attachments or login credentials with those you cannot verify.
• Manually set up the Zoom meeting and create the meeting link yourself to guarantee that the link is safe and authentic.

If you’ve been affected by this scam, report the incident to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI) at tipstotbi@tbi.tn.gov or the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center.

To learn more about scams and fraud, visit our website or tune in to our Real Tea Podcast episode featuring Josh DeVine, Communications Director at the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation (TBI).