Somehow the summer months always seem to fly by in Grand County, so I'm hoping we can hold on to these warm days and long evenings for just a little bit longer.

As we head into September, it's also REALTOR® Safety Month. It's a good reminder that safety in our business isn't just about being careful at showings and open houses. It's also about protecting our accounts, our clients, and our transactions from fraud and scams.

One easy step you can take right now is to turn on two-factor authentication in Flexmls. It adds an extra layer of security to your account by requiring a verification code in addition to your password. Two-factor authentication will become mandatory for our MLS beginning October 1, so if you haven't already enabled it, I encourage you to go ahead and do it now.

You may also notice our staff being a little more cautious when making changes to member accounts. Scammers are getting increasingly sophisticated at impersonating agents and attempting to gain access to accounts. That may mean an extra verification step from time to time, but it's an important step in keeping our members and MLS secure.

And while we're talking about safety, if you're not already using FOREWARN, take advantage of it! It's a great tool for verifying the identity of prospective clients before you meet them and is included as a member benefit.

I also recently read an interesting article from RETechnology, What Six Common Scams Reveal About How Fraud Really Works. It looks at several scams targeting real estate professionals—including wire fraud, seller impersonation, and fake messages from brokers—and points out that they all have something in common: scammers create a situation they control and add urgency so you don't stop to verify what you're being told.

The takeaway is pretty simple: slow down and independently verify. Don't rely on how convincing someone sounds or how legitimate an email or text looks. Check the information against a source the other person doesn't control.

Read the RETechnology article: What Six Common Scams Reveal About How Fraud Really Works

We work in a business where we're constantly communicating with people we don't know, handling sensitive information, and helping clients through high-dollar transactions. Taking a few extra precautions can go a long way toward protecting ourselves and the people we serve.

Stay safe out there!