A Western Australia real estate agent has lost $329,500 after scammers successfully stole the money from a trust account last week.
According to Consumer Protection, the agent received a phone call from scammers posing as their bank and was asked to verify some recent transactions on the account.
The scammers then requested remote access to the computer via software the agent was asked to download, which then gave remote access to the scammers.
The scammers were able to conduct a range of transactions from various trust accounts while on the phone to the victim before the real bank called to alert the victim to possible fraudulent activity.
This is the second successful scam on a WA-based real estate agency in the past month after scammers lured another agent and two settlement agents into transferring $64,468 from their trust accounts.
Commissioner for Consumer Protection Trish Blake said agents need to be aware that scammers will potentially be targeting them.
“Never assume that a call from your bank is actually your bank – hang up and call them back on a legitimate number from their website or a bank statement,” Ms Blake said.
“What’s concerning about these latest scams, is that the scammers know the last few transactions on the accounts, which makes them sound very convincing – don’t fall victim to this elaborate and sophisticated scam.”
Ms Blake said agents need to be on high alert for any calls from people claiming to be from banks.
“Your bank will never ask you to give out passcodes or request remote access to your computer, so please do not hand this information over to someone you don’t know over the phone,” she said.
“I am urging all agents to be exceptionally wary of any calls of this nature.
“If you have been approached and managed to avoid being scammed, please let Consumer Protection know so we can investigate and alert other agents.”
Consumer Protection said it is working with the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC), REIWA and the Australian Institute of Conveyancers WA (AICWA) to address this emerging trend of scammers specifically targeting agents.
While the ACCC are working with the big four banks to identify how scammers are accessing accounts.
