It's a [scam[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/were-you-contacted-by-a-scammer-dsvw-vd~4289074?n=98).

not a pro..curious Sophie..could you explain?

I guess I don't understand why it would be a scam. And how would I get scammed if I set a contract up front, with partial payment before I start, etc? I already asked who her moving company was so I could contact them in case problems arise. She texted first, and we had email correspondence there after. This isn't a Nigerian King needing my bank account information. Sophia, I'd like more information or examples of this sort of thing if it is a scam. Thanks.

Did you not read the link?

Link is not available to people who are not "pro" members.

Fake customers contact pro via text. Move on to email. Agree to contract. Get fake over payment, "refund" customer, and are out their hard earned money.

Just ask for a real phone number and a FaceTime call as a screening tool. And only accept payment after an actual in person visit by a real customer, with a real check, or credit card.

I don't see a link and have a PRO beside my name. Anyhow, I've looked up the home on our city's property registry. The house was sold on 1/17/17. I found the house on zillow and went through the photos since they are still up and compared those images to the email the client sent detailing the house they bought and what it looked like. So far it all checks out. I hope it isn't a scam but again all that would happen is I would get my hopes up for nothing.

[LINK (Again)[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/were-you-contacted-by-a-scammer-dsvw-vd~4289074?n=98)

Were you contacted by a scammer?

Nobody likes a scammer, and it can be frustrating when you aren't sure if an inquiry is real or not. Having an online presence is fantastic for business, but the flip side of course is you are open to spam and unwanted contact. So what can you do?

If you are concerned that a person contacting you is a scammer, you can report that person to the FBI Internet Crime Complaint Center

If they mention that they found you on Houzz, let the Houzz Legal Operations team know by contacting us at legal@houzz.com. We do file complaints in response to these issues, but they are a far higher priority if the person that received the text or email files the complaint directly with the Internet Crime Complaint Center.

You need to be a professional to visit this page.

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forwarded to FBI...

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I'll look into it further.

Easy, if they offer to send you a cashier's check, it's a scam.

I am going to assume it is a scam. It doesn't look exactly like the others posted but similar enough. I went ahead and reported it to the internet crime division. It would be a cool project though. The idea of setting up someone's home for them before they ever arrive would e fun but I can't risk getting suckered.

Sorry Alison. Sounds like the offers I get to send my artwork to other countries.

Hey I'm American born and raised and I use words like soonest and kindly - they are real genuine words, nothing non-American about them!

nycefarm, although those words "soonest" and "kindly" are in the English language, they aren't typically used in correspondence and generally indicate someone that is not familiar with American idioms nor American phrasing. Not that we can't be different, but the use of those words is definitely a red flag.

I have been approach by the same this month.

About a person moving to Toronto and very anxious about mode of payment with a unique vocabulary. then asking for a favour to pay extra more than the fee to accommodate a payment to someone else - the address and the floor plans given did not match also. the person will not talk on the phone and only via emails .

It's probably a scam. The person will send you a check for well over the amount, ask you to cash it and send them the balance. And it's a bad check. This happens all the time.

My daughter is an Event Planner and gets these scams all the time. She also seems to know how to spot them from the get-go.

Thanks for the feedback - you always want to give the other the benefit of the doubt at the beginning and not think about the instincts you pick on but soon realize that something is quiet out of place - this guy even sent a text message today and followed up with the phone call

Request they kindly desist soonest!