Weird Dallas Real Estate and Texas Rangers Story: Could This Agent be in Stranger Danger?
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It’s not like you have to do a background check on every single client who contacts you when you are a Realtor. But then again yes, maybe you do! When you have agents’ faces plastered all over glossy mags and billboards, they are noticeable but maybe to the wrong people.
Kristin Sims with Carolyn Shamis told me a story that sends shudders when you think of what COULD have happened. She wanted me to post this to see if other agents had ever had this experience, or anything similar. Full disclosure: Kristin has had issues with a stalker; this could be related. I felt it was super creepy, so tell us what YOU think!
Kristin was given a client referral by another agent who had received a cold call for a high rise rental in the Turtle Creek area. Kristin calls and emails the client, they talk several times. He drops designer Adrienne Faulkner’s name, says he is going to be working with her in Dallas. He said he was a baseball player. He had just transferred to the Texas Rangers from the San Diego Padres, but he had not yet formally started with the Rangers and so asked to keep the info mum. The deal was not public yet, he said. Said he had looked at properties around Texas stadium and did not like, and he had no real estate agent. He was already in Dallas, staying in a hotel. He definitely wanted to lease, was interested in the W, Azure, and properties along Turtle Creek. He then car-bragged: said he had a Ferrari and a Bentley convertible and a third car (back in San Diego). Also, relatives came to stay with him for weeks at a time, so he needed guest flexibility. Kristin warned that might be a problem with some of the HOAs. The player gave his name as one “Jesus Morales.” Kristin and Jesus spent a great deal of time communicating by email, by phone, and text. “Morales” spent some time communicating with Adrienne as well.
They planned to meet on a Tuesday in June at Kristin’s office to see properties. “Morales” said he was renting a car and would come by the office with his manager and personal assistant. He would PICK HER UP and they would all go look at props together.
Kristin, insisted she would drive because she was more familiar with the neighborhood.
Morales wanted to drive, saying he wanted to make sure the car had plenty of legroom
My car has plenty of legroom in the back seat, Kristin told him
The following Tuesday, meeting day, Kristin had a tour schedule starting at the Azure at 4 pm. Morales was to meet her there. I may be running a little late, he said, as I will be doing volunteer work at Children’s Medical.
Tuesday afternoon came, Kristin was sitting in lobby of the Azure with Adrienne Faulkner, waiting. Morales texts “running late, have to run back to play a game, go look and just pick out a property for me, I trust you.”
During the next couple of hours, he texts several times, asking for progress on the property search. Wrapping it, he says I’ll call you Sunday.
The very next day Kristin is in contact with a friend who happens to work at Children’s Medical Center. Kristin asks how the Texas Rangers appearance went.
“We never had any Texas Rangers there, ” she told Kristin.
That’s weird. Kristin called the Texas Rangers, was referred to HR, who never returned her call. But a former baseball playing friend checked both rosters of the Rangers and the San Diego Padres: no Jesus Morales on either team.
Skeptical, Kristin next has a long conversation with the agent who referred him to her. She contacts the police and does more digging.
The 972 phone number he used turned out to be registered to a woman in Irving, Texas. The email addresses were registered to someone who had published air conditioning repair manuals.
Neither she nor Adrienne Faulkner ever heard from “Morales” again.
It appears the guy was a fake. But what’s scary, of course, is he and his “agent” insisting on picking up an agent at her home and “drive” to the listings. Could be innocent, or could be scary.
Has anyone out there ever heard of such a scenario? I know about the guys who make dates with women to go look at multi million listings, pretending to be big shots with deep pockets. I know about Steven Breed. But posing as a Texas Ranger? Said it before, I’ll say it again: you can’t make this &#@* up!
Stagers experience the same sorts of worries. We advise our Real Estate Staging Association members to always let someone know where you are going when you leave the office. Have a person to check in and out with especially if you work from home. I remember one time having a weird "gut" feeling about a client. I took a corkscrew with me (only "weapon" I could find) then called a pal, gave them the address and told them to call me in an hour and if I did not respond to come look for me. Turned out the client was a judge! I could not have been safer. Sometimes your gut is right and sometimes it's wrong but it's ALWAYS smart to play it safe : ).
Stagers experience the same sorts of worries. We advise our Real Estate Staging Association members to always let someone know where you are going when you leave the office. Have a person to check in and out with especially if you work from home. I remember one time having a weird "gut" feeling about a client. I took a corkscrew with me (only "weapon" I could find) then called a pal, gave them the address and told them to call me in an hour and if I did not respond to come look for me. Turned out the client was a judge! I could not have been safer. Sometimes your gut is right and sometimes it's wrong but it's ALWAYS smart to play it safe : ).
Wow! That is a great tip Karen. What's so creepy here is the story about doing volunteer work at Childrens…
Wow! That is a great tip Karen. What's so creepy here is the story about doing volunteer work at Childrens…
When a buyer starts name dropping, giving me the names of the expensive cars he drives and insists on picking me up in HIS car to judge "leg room" what is it about this picture you are not getting. Some people are so overly impressed with someone else's material "stuff" that they tend to miss the whole point. There were sure a lot of postings for something that should be common sense and hopefully your Mother taught you to look out for. The wolf in lambs clothing I believe.
When a buyer starts name dropping, giving me the names of the expensive cars he drives and insists on picking me up in HIS car to judge "leg room" what is it about this picture you are not getting. Some people are so overly impressed with someone else's material "stuff" that they tend to miss the whole point. There were sure a lot of postings for something that should be common sense and hopefully your Mother taught you to look out for. The wolf in lambs clothing I believe.
What were you going to do with that corkscrew? Maybe serve him some wine? The answer is concealed carry. I never do business unarmed.
Wow!Someone with a CHL also told me other day they have not been stopped by police for speeding or anything ever since they got their CHL. I'm next!
David I can do a lot of damage with a corkscrew!
Yeah right!
A 110 pound 5.3 foot woman with a cork screw against a 225 pound 6.2 foot man. OK? Stick him once and your story is over, Come on you are not for real?
What were you going to do with that corkscrew? Maybe serve him some wine? The answer is concealed carry. I never do business unarmed.
Wow!Someone with a CHL also told me other day they have not been stopped by police for speeding or anything ever since they got their CHL. I'm next!
David I can do a lot of damage with a corkscrew!
Yeah right!
A 110 pound 5.3 foot woman with a cork screw against a 225 pound 6.2 foot man. OK? Stick him once and your story is over, Come on you are not for real?
I've had two creepy experiences and they could have easily proved to be life endangering. I learned from the lessons and really pay attention to "gut feelings". One proved to be a thief and another one with unknown motives. The thief was with me for 5 hours and I wonder to this day what he would have done to me if I had seen him taking something.
I've had two creepy experiences and they could have easily proved to be life endangering. I learned from the lessons and really pay attention to "gut feelings". One proved to be a thief and another one with unknown motives. The thief was with me for 5 hours and I wonder to this day what he would have done to me if I had seen him taking something.