How do I avoid Zoom meeting scams?
QUESTION: I reviewed the Guide and Best Practices for Preventing Seller Impersonation Fraud in Residential and Commercial Transactions in the Q&A library, and one of the suggestions is that listing agents insist on a live, face-to-face video chat with the seller. I have just been approached to list a vacant piece of property a couple of counties away, and the seller sent me a Zoom link to connect with them and discuss it tomorrow. Am I on the right path here?
ANSWER: No. Do not click any link sent to you from a seller you have not met in-person first, and be extra careful if a listing comes to you from an area that you do not ordinarily practice in. As the guide you mention states, scammer tactics are constantly evolving, and these two new tactics are a good example.
First, as to the Zoom link, it is very likely malware that will infect your computer. Do not click on any links from an unknown source, ever. You should even be careful if someone you know sends you an odd email with a link. Fake sellers have become savvy to agents requesting an in-person video interview, and a fake Zoom invitation is their latest response to those requests. Send your own Zoom link or use FaceTime on your smartphone. If the seller only has WhatsApp, then that is also a red flag, and you should proceed with caution. It may be a scammer looking to run another scam, such as a pig-butchering or confidence man scheme.
Second, fake sellers have shifted to approaching listing agents that are far away from the subject property rather than close by. This is because they do not want you to visit the property in person and ask questions they will not be able to answer. If you receive a solicitation for a listing outside your area from someone who cannot meet in person, then assume it is a scam until you can confidently prove otherwise. The guide you mention has many other ways to ascertain whether you are dealing with a scammer or not.
Despite all the information being distributed by NC REALTORS®, local boards, the North Carolina Real Estate Commission, broker schools, and many others, real estate scams continue to occur and cause harm to both agents and consumers. Agents and firms must continue to be vigilant and take advantage of new and existing tools that provide information and help verify the identity of potential clients.
Release Date: 3/26/2026
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