Play it Safe Online.


Play it safe online by ensuring you can quickly identify different types of online fraud and email scams.
Here are some tips to assist you in staying safe throughout the buying and selling process.

Tips for protecting yourself online using homesales.com.au:
1.    Make sure your password is secure, unique, changed regularly and kept to yourself.  
2.    Install security software and update it regularly.
3.    Never release personal information, credit card details or financial information without having full knowledge of where the information is going.
4.    Always use the homesales contact/enquiry form as a first point of contact to the seller or agent.

Some possible forms of Online Scams:

False Enquiry:

False enquiry scams are also known as buyer scams as they often involve fraudsters posing as buyers feigning interest in item(s) for sale.
Be cautious of suspicious email enquiries you may receive containing poor grammar or personal information, such as their job description or family situation as these may indicate the enquiry  is not legitimate.
If you receive an email of this nature, delete it immediately and report it to our support team.

False Listing:

Key identifying features of a false listing can include:
1.    The property is located overseas and must be sold urgently.
2.    The seller will ask for a deposit by money transfer services.
3.    The seller will only correspond via email.

Phishing Scams:

Phishing (pronounced 'fishing') scams are carried out by fraudsters who try to deceive buyers and sellers into giving out personal information or banking details by posing as trusted organisations.
From time to time, we will send you emails promoting new services or regarding your property listing. However, we will never send an email asking you to confirm your username, password or bank/payment details.

SMS Scams:

SMS scams are growing in popularity with fraudsters. Sometimes mobile users are being targeted by text messages from seemingly legitimate sources, such as a interested buyer in your property. These messages, like phishing scams, seek to dupe users into providing personal details or communicating via email or text message.

There are a few things you can do to avoid taking the bait.
1.    Check the message hasn't come from an overseas number - messages sent from an Australian mobile phone will begin with +61. Legitimate looking messages from an international number are a tell tale sign the text is a scam.
2.    Be wary of text messages that encourage you to communicate via email. Now that you have the potential buyer phone number, we encourage you to communicate via a phone call rather than online.
3.    Check the message hasn't come from an automated mobile number - call the number to make sure it is active, rather than replying to the text.
4.    Don't click on links in text messages.

If you have any concerns regarding your transactions, or receive a suspicious claim asking for money, please contact our support team immediately and do not engage in any further correspondence with the seller/landlord.

Don't forget the 5 golden rules of browsing and buying online:
1. Have up-to-date antivirus software
2. Have up-to-date firewall software
3. Choose a secure password
4. Always log off when you're done
5. Most importantly...
If it looks too good to be true, then it probably is!

Remember if you see an ad that looks suspicious or receive a suspicious email, report it to our support team immediately:

Email: support@homesales.com.au