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# I've received a suspicious enquiry - what should I do?

It is generally safe to reply to an enquiry via email, but it is never safe to click unknown links or share financial data.

**A note on enquiries that arrive the moment you go live:** these are usually not spam. Real estate agents watch for new private listings and often make contact within minutes. They're worth a reply — see [Why am I getting enquiries from real estate agents straight after listing?](https://help.propertynow.com.au/en/article/why-am-i-getting-enquiries-from-real-estate-agents-straight-after-listing-1pbtwo4/).

### How to spot a scam enquiry
A scammer will usually reveal themselves very quickly. Be wary if someone claiming to be an interested buyer asks you to:
* **Share financial details:** They ask for your bank account, credit card, or personal ID (like your passport) early in the conversation.
* **Click strange links:** They send a link claiming it’s a "pre-approval document" or a "deposit receipt." **Never click these.**
* **Make a payment:** They ask you to pay a "courier fee" or a "verification fee" to move the sale forward.
* **Use unusual platforms:** They try to move the conversation away from email or phone and onto encrypted apps like Telegram or WhatsApp immediately.

### A simple safety checklist
You can stay 100% safe by following these three rules:
1. **Don't click:** Never click on suspicious links or download unexpected attachments.
2. **No data sharing:** Never provide your banking, financial, or private ID information to an enquirer. All financial transactions (like deposits) should be handled through your **solicitor's trust account**.
3. **Forward for review:** If a message feels wrong, don't ignore your gut. Forward the enquiry to **support@propertynow.com.au** and our team will give you a second opinion.

### What to do if it is a scam
If you realise an enquiry is a scam:
* **Do not engage:** Stop replying immediately. Scammers look for active accounts to target.
* **Block and ignore:** Block the sender's email address or phone number.
* **Report it to us:** Let us know which portal the enquiry came from so we can report the user to Realestate.com.au or Domain and help protect other sellers.

### Most odd-looking enquiries are just shy buyers
Many genuine buyers send very short, one-line messages without a phone number because they want to avoid being hassled by agents. Don't mistake a brief message for a scam!
As long as you **don't click links** and **don't give out bank details**, you can safely reply to everyone to see if they are a real person interested in your home.