ATLANTA — Metro Atlanta real estate agents are warning prospective renters and homebuyers to verify who they are dealing with after scammers allegedly copied legitimate agents’ social media profiles, photos and videos to solicit money from unsuspecting victims.
Atlanta realtor Brandon Anderson said someone copied content from his legitimate social media account, B_LuxeTV, and created an account called “Brandon Approval Service.”
The account advertises services including credit repair, eviction assistance, cash payments and co-signer approval for rentals and home purchases.
Anderson said the account is not affiliated with him.
“This right here is the fake page,” Anderson said, adding that he has repeatedly reported the account to TikTok. “TikTok is refusing to take it down.”
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Anderson said the scammers are using his identity and reputation to advertise homes and rental units that are not actually available through him.
“You pay your earnest money to the closing attorney, not to me. I don’t take payment,” Anderson said.
He said the problem has affected more than his online presence. Anderson said he has nearly lost major contracts and clients because of the account.
Pure Brown said she encountered a similar arrangement while searching online for a downtown Atlanta condo.
“I was looking for a sky view, something in downtown,” Brown said.
She responded to a social media advertisement for a condo that promoted cash payment and no background checks. Brown said she believed the account belonged to a realtor named Tia.
“I thought it was very much legit,” Brown said.
Brown said she paid a $300 deposit and went to the property expecting to receive the keys. The person she had been communicating with never arrived.
“I’m like, OK, the doors are locked, where are you? No response,” Brown said. “I’m texting, I’m here, hello, I paid you.”
Brown later posted about her experience on social media, where her video caught the attention of the condo’s actual owner.
Brown said she eventually learned the person connected to the payment was Jakerra Hester because she had been directed to send money through a Zelle account bearing Hester’s name.
Other metro Atlanta real estate agents have also filed complaints alleging their images and identities were used in similar schemes involving Hester.
Records provided for this story show Hester was arrested in February in DeKalb County on identity fraud charges. She also faces similar cases in Virginia and North Carolina.
The DeKalb County case remains pending.
Channel 2 Investigative Reporter Ashli Lincoln also went to multiple addresses listed for Hester but was unable to locate her.
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Real estate professional Curtis Russell, with Great Homes ATL, said his business has also dealt with social media impersonation.
“Probably about a year ago, we had our entire Instagram page copied,” Russell said.
Russell said consumers should be skeptical of social media accounts promising services such as credit repair or guaranteed keys to a property.
“We need not solely rely on social media,” Russell said.
He recommends verifying an agent’s license through the Georgia Real Estate Commission and checking the website of the brokerage the person claims to represent.
“The person can go to that brokerage website, and all or most brokerages have a list of all of their agents,” Russell said. “And so if you don’t see the person, you know, Curtis Russell with this particular company, another flag.”
Anderson offered another warning for people looking for homes online.
“No realtor is gonna promise you a key in hand,” he said. “We’re not landlords, we’re not debt collectors, we’re not credit repair fixes.”
Anderson said he has filed a police report and hopes investigators can determine who is operating the account impersonating him.
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