The ‘Local Records Office’ Warns Realtors in Protecting Real Estate Transactions from Cyber Criminals & Scams in Pekin, IL.

PEKIN, ILLINOIS – The Local Records Office warns with money-wiring becoming more popular, and the industry’s high demand causing buyers to act more aggressively than ever, the fiscal year of 2017 alone had $969 million that “diverted or attempted to be diverted” from a real estate purchase transaction and wired to “criminally controlled” accounts.

With the devastating news that hit Pekin, IL, real estate professional Pal Beall reveals to the Realtor Mag that her client’s home sale had quickly fallen apart because of one single devastating email. Just a few days before closing in late December, the buyer responded to this genuine-looking request to send in the full amount of $203,000 –of the purchase price –was a scammer posing as the representative for the title company and the wired money left the buyer’s hands to an invisible thief.

Local Records Office Warns Buyers on Wiring Money Scams and Property Deed

Cybercriminals have not only targeted the title companies, but also agents, sellers, buyers, and attorneys. And the number of wire fraud cases has jumped 480% in 2016 according to the FBI.

It is important to note that along with Beal, the FBI is also warning every one of these scams, also explains “we’re just one source.”

And wire scams are just one of many of the popular frauds. Another successful tactic the FBI warns cybercriminals to employ is a spreading software known as malware, which allows them to remotely monitor activities on, and even control the person’s computer or another device. A way they convince people is by convincing people to click on links and attachments in emails that appear to be coming from a trusted source, says, Local Records Office.

Close to 66 percent of malware had installed last year and arrived in malicious emails, and 95 percent have phishing attacks –have enticed email recipients to turn over sensitive information, including passwords –to lead the installation of malicious software, Verizon explains. Malware is also able to make its way onto a computer through web ads that contain infected code.

Pay Close Attention to Real Estate Transactions Many Scams Are Hard to Find According to Local Records Office

Consider there is a higher risk and that your company is at stake as it is important to pay attention to how you conduct your operations and interact with your clients. About eighty percent of hacking-related breaches were by stolen passwords or passwords easy to guess, according to the 2017 Data Breach Investigations Report from Verizon. (You can discover the worst passwords used in 2017 here.)

• Weak passwords –are the leading gateway to many of these cyber-attacks and using simple passwords and /or the same passwords on all your accounts is never the best way, so wise up and never use a word that is relatable to you. Choose a random word, intersperse it with either: numbers, symbols, and lower or uppercase letters. Finally, never share this with anyone.

• Stranger danger –opening e-mails from senders you do not recognize are usually phishing scams and usually can quickly corrupt or infect your computer and even spread to other users. Here are some simple ways to identify these unwelcome guests:

-Do not open when it is from a company or a person you do not know, (especially when they do not address you by name).

-When it looks crazy, trust your instincts, it most likely is. The language of an email usually gives away tell-tale signs and when you hover your mouse over any links embedded inside the e-mail, and it shows a long, complicated and confusing URL displayed, ie. one with a lot of ‘X’s, then it is more than likely a phishing e-mail.

-When an email says it is urgent or displays an alert that requires immediate attention, be warned. These E-mails are playing on your psyche to trick you into opening the E-mail. Delete any E-mails that say ‘you owe money’, ‘have won money’ or your banks need access from a discrepancy, says, Local Records Office.

-Do not download ZIP files and /or attachments clicking links, unless they are from a trusted party and carries out the appropriate checks.

The Local Records Office Tips for 2018 in Pekin, Illinois

• Keep up to date –make sure all your operating systems are up to date. Updates from Microsoft, Mac, and Linux are regularly published will not just improve functionality but will also provide the latest security developments.

• Certified –SSL Certificates are a secure way of protecting data, as well, your organization’s identity and location. These small data files create a chain and activate a lock and an HTTP protocol to enable secure connections from the webserver to web browser. As it is simple to install an SSL certificate on your server, it is also easy to identify secure sites, because the certificate that has been installed, the application protocol changes HTTP to HTTPs. The browser on your internet will also show you a padlock or a green bar when an SSL Certificate has been adopted.

• Isolation is not a violation –while more people working in isolation and accessing the data while on the move, risk for an infection increases. Use secure and reputable remote desktop software. And check your providers’ technical abilities to ensure that they include security measures, such as permanent encryption. These should also be based on a standard protocol, such as the TLS- which is mostly used by online banks and enforces the authentication procedures that deter access from third parties.