Experience, hard work, customer care. Add them together and you’ve got the Buffington Team. It’s no surprise that Chad’s team surpasses itself every month as the leader in local real estate sales. We’re proud to be able to work with Chad and to help so many people realize their dreams of home ownership. Thank you, Buffington Team…you’re only getting started!
OUR DIAMOND TEAM
WINNER OF THE QUARTER
At the Buffington Real Estate Group, we believe strongly in treating others as we would like to be treated, and we continually focus on it in our business practices, as well as in everyday life. Because of this, we have built a strong reputation for being professional, knowledgeable, and a good resource in the business. One of our most admirable and

effective qualities is our honesty. We work diligently to compile market research to produce the recommended list price for your property. We have an ever-growing variety of items that we make available to all of our clients FREE OF CHARGE such as our 16-ft Box Truck that is available upon request to move from house to house, or to pick up a new furniture set...YOUR CHOICE! Also, we have a pressure washer
available for spring cleaning or to get your house cleaned up and ready to list.
Title Companies Report 480 Percent Increase in Wire Fraud Attacks, According to FBI
One Finger Presses Green Button Bank Wire Transfer on Black Computer Keyboard. Closeup View. Selective Focus.
The number of wire fraud scams reported by title companies to the Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) spiked 480 percent in 2016, according to a warning issued to businesses by the FBI.

According to the FBI, perpetrators monitor real estate transactions and time the fraudulent requcst for a changc in payment type (frequently from check to wire transfer) or a change from one account to a different account under their control.
The two common scams are known as:

Business Email Compromise (BEC). This scam targets businesses working with suppliers and/or businesses that regularly perform wire transfer payments.

Email Account Compromise (EAC): This version of a BEC targets individuals that perform wire transfer payments. 

BEC/EAC scam continues to grow, evolve, and target small, medium and large businesses. The FBI reported that between January 2015 and December 2016, there was a 2,370 percent increase in identified exposed losses. scam has been reported in all 50 states and in 131 countries. Victim complaints filed with the IC3 and financial sources indicate fraudulent transfers have been sent to 103 countries.

Businesses with an increased awareness and understanding of the BEC/EAC scam are more likely to recognize when they have been targeted by BEC/EAC fraudsters, and are therefore more likely to avoid falling victim and sending fraudulent payments.
Businesses Email Account Compromise (EAC): This version of a BEC targets individuals that perform wire transfer payments. 

Businesses that deploy robust internal prevention techniques at all levels (especially for frontline employees who may be the recipients of initial phishing attempts) have proven highly successful in recognizing and deflecting BEC/EAC attempts.
ALTA's Best Practices includes policies and procedures to protect funds and data. If funds are transferred to a fraudulent account, it is important to act quickly: 

  • Contact the financial institution immediately upon discovering the fraudulent transfer.

  •  Request that the financial institution contact the corresponding financial institution where the fraudulent transfer was sent.

  • Contact your local Federål Bureau ofInvestigation (FBI) Office if the wire is recent. The FBI, working with the United States Department ofTreasury Financial Crimes Enforcement Network, might be able to help ret-v.rn or freeze the funds.

  •  File a complaint, regardless of dollar loss, with www.ic3.gov or, for BEC/ EAC victims, bec.ic3.gov
 
Title Companies Report 480 Percent Increase in Wire Fraud Attacks, According to FBI
OUR MONTHLY FEATURED REALTOR GROUP
THE VINE TEAM
Keller Williams Realty Lanier Partners
"Thank you Russ for taking such good care of our clients over the years! It is so much fun and relaxing every time we close with you! And your team is phenomenal!" - TheVine Team LLC Carmen Delgado & Camille Viera