Just How Many Phantoms Are Out There?

by Peter Mericka B.A., LL.B
Real Estate Lawyer
Qualified Practising Conveyancer Victoria
Director Lawyers Real Estate Pty Ltd

A comment on our recent posting about "phantom" property listings makes me wonder whether we may have only just scratched the surface of this problem. Just how many phantom properties are out there?

The comment appears on our posting "Cameron Fisher - Something Very Fishy!", and is reproduced below.

“You should check out ICON properties they only have a hand full of genuine listings others are phantom ones are apparently "UNDER OFFER" these properties are really SOLD! but the only way they can keep them on the Real Estate sites is to have them under offer ICON are scammers !!!! they then use the enquiry to push purchasers onto other properties and refuse to remove the phantom listings saying it's an admin error Shame on you Mr Mitchelson.”

I sent a copy of this comment to Mr. Robert Mitchelson at the email address listed on the Icon Property webiste at www.iconproperty.com.au, saying,

"As it would be unfair to post the comment without giving you a right of reply, I seek your response..."

Mr. Mitchelson did not respond, and so I telephoned him on the mobile telephone number appearing on his website, and asked him if he had received my email and whether he had any comment to make. Mr. Mitchelson's short response was:

"No comment. We know where that comment came from and we're not going to be drawn in, thank you."

I am very interested in this problem, and would like to see just how widespread it is. If you have followed up on a real estate advertisement, only to be told something along the lines of "Oh yes, that one has sold, but we have something else you may be interested in...", and you suspect that the advertisement was a phantom listing, please let me know the details.

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