Traditionally I hated having a public social media profile. In IT one of the first things I did for each applicant I had to join our team was to search them on facebook. If I could data mine them, how much should I trust them with our security? Being in real estate is a whole different beast. We have to be out there, searchable, and visible. If you can’t be found, you won’t survive in my industry.

Today is one of the days that made me really realize just how much  of a target real estate agents are in social media.

I had someone message me yesterday saying they were moving to Ottawa and wanted help finding a house. We had 3 mutual friends but I couldn’t easily see them on my mobile device. So I ask the usual questions aimed both at collecting info for a client, but also trying to see if this person is legit. “What’s your price range? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? What part of the city? Do you have any specific requirements such as a garage or access to public transit?”

Triggers started popping up. All cash buyer, but had no preference on area, special requirements, or anything beyond price and number of bedrooms. Really strange for a buyer.

Then it takes a turn for the weird. She explained that she sells them and was having a draw.

All I have to do is send her a picture of my feet.

That delay you see where she’s asking if I’m still there? Yeah, that’s the delay caused by alarm bells in my head.

But I think to myself “I’ve seen weirder contests online. It’s unorthodox, but could still be legit. Besides, what do I care if they have a photo of my feet?” I send a picture, and directly begin trying to change the conversation to real estate. We talk houses for a while, then she starts asking if there is a doctor shortage in Ottawa. Ok. I tell her that there is a province-wide shortage of family doctors, but nothing specific to Ottawa. She tells me she lost an ovary to cancer, and needs pap tests every 3 months. I’ll let it slide, it’s a legit concern and probably not intended as an overshare. Then I get this:

 To directly quote the voice in my head

“Nope. Nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope nope. Nope” – Donna’s Brain

That message was promptly followed up with questions asking for the name of my family doctor, and if he does my paps for me. 

Nope nope nope nope nope nope

Time to look up those mutual friends! 153 friends, and almost every one of them a real estate agent, all likely adding this person hoping for new business. Even ones with big social media presences, our savvy realtors, wishing them a happy birthday. I call one of the mutual friends who works in my office. Turns out she had a very similar, though significantly less creepy experience. Well that settles it.

While I post this mostly to share in my hilariously disturbing experience of an internet stalker with a foot fetish, there is a moral to the story in all this. If you have a public profile, you will be targeted. You will have random friend requests, and some of them will even seem legit, or you’ll talk yourself into thinking they are because they are offering you business. You may need to be visible, but you need to be safe.

Ask probing questions. Check with mutual friends to see if they know that person. And if it feels wrong DON’T DO IT. Could you imagine if I had obliged the request to see homes? The hazards of meeting this person in a vacant home? The business is not worth the risk.

Well played random foot fetish stalker. You had me going for a bit.