Scammers on the prowl for first home buyers: WA couple’s dreams shattered
By Maja Garaca Djurdjevic
14 January 2021
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1 minute read
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A Western Australian couple have been scammed out of their entire home purchase savings after a fraudster cloned the settlement agent’s email address.
Property buyers and sellers have been cautioned to “be suspicious” of payment demands made via email, after a young Thornlie couple’s dream of buying their first home was shattered when a scammer stole their savings of almost $133,000 just before Christmas.
According to the Western Australian Commission for Consumer Protection, after having their offer on a Piara Waters home accepted, the couple received an email, supposedly from their settlement agent, asking for a payment of $110,000.