Image via Movoto

The nation’s second-largest online real estate firms is warning that scammers are targeting real estate agents across the county.

“Fraudsters posing as Movoto Real Estate are trying to get real estate agents to pay $10 for a lead through cold emails and texts,” states a press release from the San Mateo-based company, adding, “It’s a scam.”

Movoto primarily operates online, contracting with about 3,500 real estate agents across the country to sell and buy homes for clients rather than franchising real estate offices in cities and towns.

Last year, Movoto launched its first brick-and-mortar office in Fresno and has since added offices in San Diego, Sacramento, San Mateo, Burbank, San Jose and Las Vegas.

Movoto has a screening process to contract real estate agents in other areas for the online business, but the company doesn’t charge a fee, said Monica Villanueva, a company spokeswoman.

But some agents have in recent weeks received emails designed to look like they’re from Movoto offering real estate leads with real addresses and phone numbers.
“They are accompanied by a message that might say you are ‘pre-qualified’ to receive a real estate lead for $10. These scams have affected other national brokerages and listing websites like Redfin and Realtor.com, which were targeted earlier this year,” a press release from Movoto states.

“To be clear, this is not Movoto, which vets its clients,” the release continues.

It’s not clear how many agents have paid the $10, but Villanueva noted that over the last couple of weeks, Movoto has received about 400 emails from people who received the fake messages, inquiring about them.

“Anyone who receives an email, text or other inquiry like this should contact the service provider to verify any suspect communication,” the release states.

“Always be wary of any inquiry that requests money up front. When in doubt, do not respond and search online for key words used in the inquiry,” which can include any names or phrases used, the company suggests in the press release, noting that other agents previously targeted may have posted this information to warn others of the scam.