Scammers clone email to steal $70,000

SCAMMERS have stolen $70,000 by cloning a Perth settlement agent’s email during a real estate transaction.

Consumer Protection WA is urging home and business buyers as well as real estate and settlement agents to be on “high alert”.

Two payments totalling $70,000 meant for a Perth settlement agent were stolen by scammers who cloned the settlement agent’s Yahoo email address.

The thieves changed one character of the email address and sent a payment request for $48,000 to the buyer of a business.

Believing it was a genuine email from the agent, the buyer paid the money as requested.

Another client of the same settlement agent has reported sending $22,000 to what is believed to be the same scammer.

Commissioner for Consumer Protection David Hillyard confirmed the scam involved the hacking of an email account but said an investigation was continuing.

“These payment interception scams are becoming increasingly common where the fraudsters become the ‘man in the middle’ and redirect payments from a legitimate bank account to their own,” Mr Hillyard said.

“Money transfers related to property transactions usually involve large amounts so tapping into the communications between sellers or buyers and real estate or settlement agents is significant target with potentially high windfalls for the scammers.

“If successful, as in this case, the proceeds from this type of cybercrime can be lucrative so we want to make sure that these incidents are not repeated and don’t give any incentive for fraudsters to continue their criminal activities and profit from them.

“Advice for buyers and sellers of property is to be suspicious about any email asking for money transfers or advising of a change in bank account details to where payments should be sent.

“To help prevent any losses, all it takes is a phone call to confirm requests for money or a change in bank account details are genuine. Don’t use phone numbers given in the email and don’t directly reply to the email. Use the contact details previously provided.”

Consumer Protection is warning agents and businesses to avoid using generic email addresses such as Yahoo and to use secure practices for email and financial transactions.

For more information visit the WA ScamNet website, call 1300 03 40 54 or email consumer@dmirs.wa.gov.au.